There are a lot of certified agencies operating systems that are not that good.

The thrust of the legislation is to have a transit system independent safety oversight body.

I would presume that in the new Federal role that is proposed, either the Federal agency or the delegated authority to the State with Federal support would, as a minimum, certify these systems as being functional.

In that 2006 review of GAO, you made recommendations but you did not recommend a Federal Government takeover, as proposed in this legislation.

I would think--and I am not an expert, but that seldom stops us from asking questions.

There are very severe, long-lasting costs associated with unemployment rates at the level we are seeing.

I think an essential element would be to try to reform health care in a way that controls costs going out.

So you would concur that our effort today to pass health care reform is critical to our economic future.

I think from my view, the faster we get this accomplished, then we can move on to some of the other issues we have talked about today.

I think jobs are the issue right now, and I think it is not just today's incomes, today's production.

Was the trajectory of Federal spending and Federal Reserve policy more appropriate at the end of 2000 or the end of 1999 than it is today?

Some of the criticism of even talking about a date... is that it would embolden the enemy.

that was agreed to by the Bush administration as a hard deadline without conditions.

Even with the most dedicated and talented government in Kabul, Afghani Government, the ability to reach out into the provinces is limited.

I think this legislation is timely, appropriate, and extremely important.

I am pleased not only to be here today, but also to be a cosponsor of Senator Dodd's FAIR Overdraft Coverage Act.

I think most people had a suspicion as they saw during the first decade of this century that no real increases in income, yet financial executives were enjoying huge, huge paydays.

It is going to take leadership at the national level, and, of course, the Secretary has put down a hugely important marker for that.

The kind of prevention and Rapid Re-Housing initiatives that are in Senator Reed's bill, the Zero Tolerance bill, would take that a step further.

We want to make sure this is an appropriate veteran who will come in, and as the law requires, we will participate in ongoing health care services.

What needs to happen is the VA needs to take leadership at the local level.

I am deeply worried that Rhode Islanders, especially those at high risk of contracting H1N1 influenza, will not have access to adequate protection.

We are looking, and unlike some, we have a long history of both the health care needs of these veterans.

I particularly want to recognize Senator Akaka, who has been a leader in veterans affairs.

the political support for doing more about homeless veterans, those things combine to give us an opportunity