Jack Reed

So that in your view, they do have the capacity?

One of the basic questions here is whether this authority and responsibility should devolve back to the States.

Which raises a question of not only the willingness but also the capacity of States to take up this extra--

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Let me commend you for holding the hearing, and also commend Senator Miller for his very aggressive and tenacious efforts to have this whole area looked at and reviewed.

On behalf of Senator Feinstein, I urge all colleagues to support this amendment. This amendment would continue a ban on assault weapons that has been in place for 10 years. It has ensured that military weapons will not be on the streets of…

In the CRS report to which the Senator referred, essentially he failed to note a footnote that says essentially that it does not appear that any evidence has been produced of actual violations of these provisions by Bull's Eye in the case…

That is an accurate description of the situation but, again, the imprecision was whether the store is operating, not who is operating it. The individual is not able to operate because he lost his license.

Very few suits have been filed. There is not an epidemic throughout the Nation, but probably the best evidence is from the companies themselves. Let me make reference to the 10-K report on weapons. In the opinion of management, after…

That is my view entirely. That is what this legislation will accomplish. It will not only prospectively provide barriers to the courts for victims of negligence like this, but it will reach back and protect these individuals who…

That is my understanding. It is not only my understanding, but it is the understanding of various counsel who looked closely at this legislation and rendered an opinion to that effect.

The only exception other than Price-Anderson I can think of is General Aviation Aircraft, over 18 years old, that has special protection. That is a very narrow protection, and I think it is nothing like contemplated in this legislation. I…

The Senator is right. There have been no hearings. This bill has been brought to the floor directly. That is why it is incumbent for us to take a greater amount of time to look over the bill.

I have seen no leadership from the Administration suggesting proposals of this order. Would you urge them to begin this process now?

But it seems to give us a little longer perspective, obviously, than the 5 years and 10 years that we look at tax cuts and expenditures.

Some of the legislation I have seen lately proposed by the Administration is proposing to repeal the laws of arithmetic

The structural changes that appear to be siphoning off jobs to places around the world

The currently improving economic numbers should not distract us from some very disturbing trends that persist

Mr. Secretary, do you think crouching naked for 45 minutes is humane?

So if he's dressed up, that's fine, but this also has other environmental manipulation.

What I've heard from you is dissembling and avoidance of answers, and lack of knowledge, pleading legal process.

It sounds to me like a violation of the Geneva Convention.

I would suggest, Mr. Secretary, that you're not doing your job then.

Would you describe this as a good interrogation technique or a violation of the Geneva Conventions?

One of the key aspects of an operational test is that you control the tests, not the contractors.

General Schoomaker was here a few weeks ago and said that at the current burn rate of spending on Iraq and Afghanistan he would be out of funds by October 1 unless there was a supplemental appropriation.