Jack Reed

But, that has a huge impact on the quality of life of families and children in this country.

I think it's clear that, you know, this is one of those cases--and they're not that frequent in any endeavor, particularly Government--where we have to reinforce success, not undercut it.

What that leaves, though, is big--potentially, big service gaps.

We're reaching the point where, if we deny effective resources to the Department, this level of efficiency will be compromised.

That's a very, very shocking and, indeed, shameful statistic.

These cuts will come, not from the D.C., Washington, Baltimore, metro area. Most of them are from the local offices.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Secretary. And certainly you have an extraordinarily challenging job, given the budget pressures. I think you rightly point out the central need to fundamentally reform our education…

It worries me to see that China has taken that kind of initiative and we have not.

We are looking at over 11 percent unemployment in my State.

I introduced legislation last year to expand work sharing, which just over 20 States have adopted or implemented.

For the first time, the Great Depression, 25 percent of children in this country are living in poverty.

I think is--and I'm alluding to what was suggested by Senator Mikulski--we're reaching the point where, if we deny effective resources to the Department, this level of efficiency will be compromised.

That's a very, very shocking and, indeed, shameful statistic.

We have to reinforce success, not undercut it.

I think it's ironic--I'll use that term--that you--we have one of the most effective programs in the history of this country.

That has a huge impact on the quality of life of families and children in this country.

These cuts will come, not from the D.C., Washington, Baltimore, metro area.

We all understand that a sustainable economic recovery has to depend on a healthy housing economy.

I think this is too important for Congress to sit on the sidelines.

I am requesting that this Committee begin an immediate inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding this effort.

I think the attention to bubbles is inherently difficult.

I think there is no single tool, no magic bullet. I think we have to work on all of these pieces.

I think Dr. Diamond's nomination, and I hope confirmation, to the Federal Reserve will provide an interesting perspective.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Clearly, under the agreements entered into in the Bush administration, our military presence is ending in Iraq in the end of this year.