When I was driving into work last Friday, I heard the Governor of Arizona on the news saying that her State already faces its biggest deficit ever, over $3 billion. She said they had calculated that the health care bill would cost an…

There is nothing conservative about the war in Afghanistan. In fact, it goes against every traditional conservative position I have ever known. It has meant massive foreign aid which we cannot afford and of which conservatives have…

Today is the 100th birthday of a great lady and Tennessee icon, Sarah Moore Greene. Ms. Greene has been both a national leader and a leader in our hometown of Knoxville. By the way, she still attends many events, and is always dressed like…

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 944, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq. While this bill calls attention to various religious minorities in Iraq that are victims of acts of violence and…

Education is important, calling attention to the problem in every way that you can, as you are doing here this morning, that is important.

This is not a Republican or Democratic thing. It is a very serious and growing problem, as you have said.

You were a great Member here and I think you are doing a great job as Secretary.

Congressman Duncan posed several questions relating generally to energy development on public lands including whether the bill would drive up energy costs.

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

When we run for Congress, we basically forfeit or give up any right to privacy and we sort of have to accept that.

It seems to me that it is sad that we are so controlled now that we basically have done away with almost any privacy that private citizens should have in this country.

I support Chairman Oberstar and Chairman DeFazio's work to move a six-year authorization bill that will provide solutions to our Nation's transportation challenges.

I think even they would be amazed at how accurate that prediction has become.

A six-year authorization bill will allow States to make plans and begin hiring workers for long-term projects.

These bills save thousands and thousands of lives, as you said, and I think that is something that we need to keep sight of and keep in mind as we go through this process.

I appreciate your calling today's hearing.

Our founding fathers instituted two-year terms for the Members of the House. We have to run every other year, and they did that on purpose because they felt that would put more pressure on the Members of the House to stay very close to the…

With unemployment closing in on 10 percent--and most people are predicting it is going to go much higher--we cannot afford to delay construction projects.

I would like to see a fair process set up or a fair vote.

Boy, sometimes those things are very controversial.

What I think we need to do is come up with sort of a modern Homestead Act in which we give people tax incentives...

we are going to really try and take care of the Members of this Committee.

I was interested to hear your testimony because I do know of the explosive growth in and around Las Vegas.

I want to thank our colleague, Congressman Posey, for being here to present what I know are great needs.

The last Highway Bill was $286 billion. That is a lot of money. But when you think about that that was to cover a six year period spread over 50 States, then you see that it really wasn't enough to meet all the needs that we have.