Specifically, I come here today to ask all of you to include in the budget significant funding increases in our nation's transportation infrastructure.

We need to support those efforts.

I respectfully request the committee not only provide for full funding of the BRAC recommendations but also provide legislative language to prioritize any BRAC construction related to Defense Health Programs.

I strongly support advance funding for the VA, which would essentially fund the VA one year ahead of time in order to be more efficient.

I hope this committee, under the leadership of Chairman Spratt and Ranking Member Ryan, will provide a budget blueprint that better suits the needs of my district.

This Congress has a once in a generation opportunity to really rethink our transportation network.

This budget will be a key test for us in the Congress. Will we bring the leadership that the American people are demanding?

We must do what is necessary to jump start our economy now, but long-term we must work to bring our budget into balance.

Adding funding for mass transit and other transportation projects won't only help jump start our economy, but it also will help improve the commutes of millions of Americans every day.

I applaud him for taking this strong stand in support of our veterans.

But dealing with the economic crisis does not excuse or even diminish Congress' responsibility to the primary role of the Federal Government, and that is our national defense.

I am very concerned that this not drift into the supplemental budget situation.