Sheldon Whitehouse

So how do we fix it?

I noticed the other day that the IRS had reported that the 400 top income earners in the country... had paid total Federal taxes of 16.6 percent.

I think it is fair in terms of that to at least exempt President Clinton from responsibility for our deficit.

Social Security as a program is not actuarially at fault for the need that we will have to fund the cash needs.

I can assure you that I am prepared for that work, and I think every member of this Committee would be prepared for that work.

May I first say how proud and privileged I feel to have been on the floor during the distinguished speeches of the senior Senator from Iowa on behalf of his friends and colleagues, many of decades' duration. I am still in my first term…

Rhode Island seniors get an average Social Security benefit of $13,500 a year, which makes it tough sledding to live on in the cold Northeast in the wintertime. The COLA adjustment is misfiring for seniors. Their heating costs go up, their…

This has been, I think, a very helpful hearing, and I want to say some particular thank you's.

I know that Richard Godfrey and the Rhode Island Housing team is working very hard to get that up and operating and helping.

Thank you very much for listening, and I am happy to answer any questions.

I want to give Jack great credit for the success of that.

The administration's Home Affordable Modification Program, while well intentioned, has not succeeded in producing enough modifications.

Many of these servicers are not even providing a human being to confirm that the foreclosure is warranted.

This has long appeared to be the most efficient and least costly way to keep families in their homes.

It is our hope that we could generate such a provision on a bipartisan basis.

I believe that the urgency of getting the United States of America onto a robust and secure health information infrastructure... is a primary national goal and of real urgency.

We cannot have elderly people lying alone, racked with pain, when medicine to cure that... is at hand, because of bureaucracy.

I am extremely favorably disposed toward your nomination, but there are these institutional problems that need to be addressed.

One is to respect the role of Congress as the duly elected representatives of the American people in our system of American democracy.

I think when that support is bipartisan, as it is in your case, it highlights once again the institutional value in this body of deferring to and giving great weight to the recommendations of the home State Senators.

Your service on the district court and on the circuit court provides excellent background and qualifications for this position.

The purpose of medicine is to take care of the sick and when that purpose is not being met... a secondary purpose is interfering with a primary purpose.

I appreciate very much that Chairman Leahy was willing to do that.

It is a very solemn thing for members of the U.S. Senate to consider nominees for the United States district court.

We are delighted to have him back and look forward to a more successful trip through confirmation at this time.