Jack Reed

We were able to push back on that and able to raise the caps for both defense and non-defense.

If we go ahead and go to a tenant-based voucher system, do we build in the law the guarantee that they must be housed and where they are housed?

We have to face this challenge. And again, that is why this hearing is so important and so timely.

This is a very important hearing and we are honored to have a distinguished panel of witnesses.

One of the institutional issues around here is that we do housing, that somebody else does Medicare.

We are not doing better. We are falling behind.

We know if the caps do not go up, the problem will get worse.

Senator Collins and I both share a commitment to finding innovative ways to provide adequate, decent, affordable housing for all of our citizens.

I was very impressed with your comments, Mr. Gentry, about the locality issues being so critical.

We have got, not on a per capita basis but in whole numbers, the fourth worst problem in the country behind New York City, L.A., Seattle, and then us.

In my view--and your comment would be appreciated--there are some external benefits to that beyond the housing, particularly with seniors where you have a certain community.

I think that the data we are looking at right now and the trend that Ms. Poethig suggested are the increasing demand by relatively upscale individuals for housing is going to keep rental prices high and vouchers higher also.

Well, thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman.

I think this is a critical question because there is some compelling logic but also the reality is will this result in higher cost to the Federal Government as rental prices go up.

But that is where the genius of the voucher is so useful. It is flexible.

This is a national crisis. It is getting worse. It is not getting better.

The company might have been whispering about ethical standards and treating the customer right, but they were shouting about this is the way you make money, sell more of these.

We just have to move away from sequestration.

As a Nation we need to get out in front of this problem and stop building new problems.

We have set you with the task of updating flood maps, but that is a constant challenge, and it also requires resources.

We worked with Senator Sullivan on this instruction. It is consistent, as the Senator has indicated, with the President's proposal with respect to force structure in Afghanistan and with our European Reassurance Initiative, where we are…

If these large technological players or, you know, civilian potential partners refuse to cooperate, then that is very--could be detrimental in our security.

I think it's incumbent upon us to approach it not as we've done in the past, you know, a nation-state, to countering their technology, but with a much more, you know, innovative approach.

These experts argue that cyber vulnerabilities are the greatest threat to the public and national security.

This is a third committee hearing focused on the encryption issue, which underscores the importance of this issue and its impact on national security.