To have Senator Inouye and Senator Warner give you that kind of recommendation is high praise, indeed.

I would like to thank Chairman Kohl for scheduling this important hearing on Alzheimer's disease.

I do have concerns--and our subcommittee, where we handle all of the foreign assistance--I am concerned about the Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction's report that said, of the $21 billion in the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund…

I think it is important to point out in this debate about your nomination--there is some debate and we should not shy away from confronting that debate--that you have had a commitment as a career Foreign Service officer.

We are hopeful that it will serve as a practical starting point for improving United States and global efforts.

The back to the basics approach articulated by the Global Food Security Act of 2009 is refreshing.

We must be prepared to provide the tools, skills, and resources so that farmers in developing nations have the capacity to grow their own food.

I appreciate the leadership you've provided, and Senator Lugar's, working with us on this bill.

this is a response to that.

The Global Food Security Act of 2009 (S. 384), introduced by Senators Richard Lugar and Robert Casey, is intended to set in motion a U.S. Government strategy to address the food security needs of the developing world.

I commend Senator Lugar, and I look forward to working with him on this important legislation.

We can't tackle hunger alone. We have to engage a multilateral approach.

Either the Lugar-Casey bill or the Chicago initiative would give U.S. foreign policymakers opportunity to reintroduce themselves to Africans.

I have been focused on this issue for the past year, ever since a dramatic spike in commodity prices led to food shortages.

So, it's about leadership. Yeah. Thank you.

Because there are two windows of opportunity open, at the moment, that won't be open forever.

Overcoming hunger should be one of the starting points for United States foreign policy.

Obviously, we believe this bill should pass very quickly.

the provision of this information is essential to informed discussion of how the TARP is doing in achieving its goals of restoring stability to our financial system, getting credit flowing, and reducing foreclosure rates.

Congress should require such a regular and disciplined accounting by TARP.

We have almost no information about where the TARP funds have gone and whether they are making any difference.

We are in desperate need of data.

For the first time in over a decade the Senate will be taking a close look at the American health care system and enacting reforms to help improve coverage, access, and quality of care for all Americans.

I think these issues that involve children, just like we made progress recently on children's health insurance, this issue, as well, I think is a matter of basic justice for children and for families.

I have worked hard on the Summer Food Program.