Jack Reed

To have a future which would avoid Rhode Island in any way, shape, or form, either through routes or through services, would be, I think, wrongheaded.

We spoke about air traffic controllers previously in our statements regarding this proposed privatization.

I think it is a dangerous proposal that moves this country in the wrong direction.

I would hate to see that vision exclude in any way services to Rhode Island.

I know you do not tolerate this. You do not accept it.

Giving away billions of dollars in Federal assets to a nonprofit corporation controlled by airlines without any congressional oversight is I believe an ill-conceived idea at best.

I want you to know that we all appreciate your leadership and the way you have worked with the subcommittee.

Because of the great leadership of Senator Alexander and Senator Murray, we passed the Every Student Succeeds Act.

One approach that I have talked to my colleagues about for several years now has been forcing the institutions and the lenders to put skin in the game.

I think the point that the inspector general just made about the IT systems, as you point out, could be made, many Federal agencies.

I think you have raised some very serious issues and very important issues, and the Department must respond.

I think we have been very aggressive in pushing family self-sufficiency programs, job plus programs.

I think your point's well-taken. These units are very scare.

Let me ask a final question about the family self-sufficiency program.

The issue of reducing the homelessness among our youth is one that is a passion of mine.

I would suspect that their system are probably already out of date by many years.

To what extent are you urging or the Department is contemplating a more significant role for local housing officials?

Senator Collins and I share this concern about the HUD-VASH vouchers, the fact that progress has been made, but there's no request this year for additional vouchers, even though roughly 48,000 veterans are still in the United States…

You're requesting this year $25 million for a continuing care project that targeted youth.

There's another area that the chairman and I share, and that is the lead exposure.

Most of these programs, if not all of them, require interagency coordination.

The formula must be corrected, and your leadership is going to make that change effective.

Well, thank you very much, Madam Chairman.

If you get into a family self-sufficiency program to raise your wages or a jobs program, you're going to lose your housing, that's not the right message either.

Thank you, Madam Chairman, for the hearing.