Today is 9/11, and we certainly should be--every day should be, but especially today in our thoughts and our prayers, the people who perished at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and then, in my district, Shanksville, Pennsylvania…

This is one of the issues that we need to focus on: passenger rail service in this country, making it better, stronger, safer.

Let me start off by saying I support Amtrak. I want Amtrak to succeed, but it cannot continue to go down this path that we have gone over the last 20 or 30 years.

As chairman of the Panel on Business Challenges within the Defense Industry, I have seen the incredible capability that Small Businesses can bring to the table to quickly and effectively innovate and commercialize technology.

red tape and bureaucracy are getting in the way of innovation, efficiency and jobs.

I think the polls are clear that Californians want a re-do.

We do have serious transportation problems in this country. Funding is a huge issue.

I am just not for spending this money on high-speed rail lines that aren't going to be built.

Marcellus shale is a tremendous opportunity, not only for Pennsylvania to create employment and to regain our stature in the States as one of the economic powerhouses in the United States.

The President's actions don't support. He talks about improving the environment for businesses and reducing regulations, but yet one of his agencies... are expanding their efforts and their regulatory reach into places like Pennsylvania.

I think we would have something to fear from a national standard because I think that, as Secretary Krancer pointed out, it would be lowest common denominator.

It is extremely important for us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, which we every year, to the tune of over $100 billion, we are sending to countries that, quite frankly, hate us.

I don't believe somebody sitting in Washington, DC, is better equipped or more dedicated than the folks at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The word that is out there... it is hysteria. Leading newspapers in America are putting out false information, or misinformation out there.

Our Nation lacks a coherent and complete strategy for our Nation's defense.

While the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act did much to increase transparency and foster competition, there is still a great deal of room for improvement in the Department of Defense's business practices.

The only problem is that it was written in 1958 and not much has changed.

While the bill did much to garner efficiency, increase transparency and foster competition, there is still room for improving DOD's business practices.

I am a strong believer in the fact that you can't solve the problem without looking at both sides of the equation.

We will drag the Congress and whoever else kicking and screaming into the 21st century of passenger rail service with private sector participation, one way or the other.

We do pick winners and losers, that's what we have been doing with this money.

I believe it will benefit the entire country if we turn the Northeast Corridor into high-speed rail.

I know that we can again attract private-sector capital if they have the opportunity not only to help develop, help finance, help construct, and also help to operate.

I believe passenger rail in this country is needed. I think we ought to look at the places where that investment needs to be focused.

I agree with the governor and the mayor that dribs and drabs around this country are not going to get us high speed rail.