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

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

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

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

I urge the Senate to try again this Congress to enact a legislative fix to address the harmful effects of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Carcieri v. Salazar.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

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.

today I am introducing the Preserving Homes and Communities Act. I introduced an earlier version of this legislation in 2009. I am pleased to again be joined by Senators Durbin, Leahy, Merkley, Whitehouse, and Franken as cosponsors of this…

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

if passed without modification, there could be as much as a 2-percent decrease in the growth next year going forward and as many as 700,000 jobs lost

if we contract spending at the Federal level... you do not anticipate a fall-off, a significant fall-off in growth?

the issue that confronts us is this year's budget and next year's budget.

I think the kind of audits concerns and unintended consequences that you are talking about may well be the worst effects.

I think it is critical that not only Congress address the defense needs, but address the State Department needs as well.

today I introduce with my colleague, Senator Grassley, the Prescribe a Book Act. I thank Senators Begich, Blumenthal, Collins, Kerry, Lautenberg, Sanders, Stabenow, and Whitehouse for joining us as original cosponsors of this bipartisan…

The international community and Afghanistan cannot afford a force of 375,000 Afghan National Security Fund (ANSF) indefinitely.

It is absolutely critical to fund the defense budget going forward not in an ad hoc, every 60 days basis, but over a long period of time.

I would assume that you would stress with the same urgency the need to fund those types of DOS programs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We have to start now and build that in.

Thanks very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Secretary Mabus and Admiral Roughead, will this delay lead to any gap in capability?

The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) has been a workhorse of the amphibious force for moving vehicles and cargo from our amphibious ships to shore.

I think you have to move with some expedition, because, again, the last time we were all here together visiting, we were talking about how much progress we were making in this global settlement.