I was in the Middle East last week and spent some time in Turkey but mostly focused on Syria.

A 10-percent increase in funding for the VA will help veterans get the care and support they need and deserve.

Job creation must remain the top priority of the administration, this Congress, and this committee.

I think we can expand upon that when it comes to your service, Ambassador Ford.

the impact or the result of that proposal, of course, would be to eliminate what we know of as Trade Adjustment Assistance, which I think is a mistake.

North Korea's recent actions have sent a clear wake-up call to the White House that a strong ICBM force is the best deterrent strategy to keep America safe.

I applaud... the reform of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act laws to increase investment in the U.S. and create jobs.

I think it has real effects upon seniors and veterans.

I was pleased to see that the President's budget looks to replace the sequester with more thoughtful cost-saving measures.

We cannot balance the budget on the backs of rural jobs.

I voted for every bill I could to stop these indiscriminate cuts.

The farm bill is our jobs bill, and I will not support anything that gets in the way of our ability to get it done.

We should be looking at ways to reduce penalties for foreign investment in the United States.

Our veterans deserve to come home to good-paying jobs and a Nation that honors their sacrifices.

With all the changes, I just want to make sure we--meaning myself as well--meet these obligations.

Those of us who supported it had better be committed to getting it right, especially as it relates to children.

This amendment creates a neutral reserve fund that supports the Edward Byrne memorial justice assistance grants. It helps every one of our States. It has been cut by one-third over the last 2 years. We provide support for local and State…

I appreciate that. I am glad you mentioned Strong Start.

I want to thank the ranking member. Doctor, I appreciate you being here, for your testimony and for your service.

I think that there is at least a measure of bipartisan support for that kind of action.

You mentioned, Senator Casey, the flour program, where U.S. flour is reaching 50 bakeries that are feeding 210,000 people in the northern governates of Aleppo.

I commended the effort undertaken by neighboring countries to leave their borders open.

This is precisely the sort of crisis which on both a moral and strategic basis calls for American leadership; if we decline to exercise such leadership, the consequences--for the Middle East and for our position there--may be grimmer still.

The hearing will come to order.

I would just urge us to coordinate our game plan better than we have in the past.