I do support the idea of an independent fact-finding commission as opposed to relying solely on the regular Committee structure.

We must, as a country, take stock of where we have been and determine what was and is not acceptable.

We do not have any provisions in our Constitution that puts some people, elected or otherwise, above the law.

I think the Justice Department--I know they are working on just the issue you raise.

I do not think we should let only one side define history on such important questions.

I would also like to thank Senator Whitehouse and Senator Leahy for scheduling this hearing.

I would like, therefore, to thank Senator Leahy for introducing Senate bill 1653, the Federal Judgeship Act of 2009.

Thanks to the Leahy provision added in the 2004 reauthorization, DirecTV subscribers in Bennington and Windham counties do have access to Vermont television stations.

The local television plays a key role in cities and towns across the country.

Thank you very much. And, unfortunately, as Senator Specter was referring to, everybody has about five different committees going on at once, but Senator Specter and I have always worked together in putting up the agenda for this Committee.

Congress has facilitated the growth of the cable and satellite industries by providing a statutory license to retransmit broadcast television to consumers.

In 1999, I introduced legislation with Senator Kohl and Senator Hatch and others that led to the creation of a license for satellite companies to provide local broadcast stations in local markets for the first time.

I urge the Committee to work to assure that residents of rural areas such as the area I represent receive satellite television at reasonable cost with programming relevant to the State of Vermont, the State in which they live.

For its part, the Sri Lankan army insists it is targeting the LTTE, not civilians.

The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka that has waxed and waned for decades costing the lives of tens of thousands of people, has exploded into a full scale war and it is civilians who are bearing the brunt of the carnage.

The origins of the conflict arise from decades of the Sinhalese majority's systematic discrimination against the Tamil minority, and its denial of the Tamils' meaningful participation in the political process.

The LTTE has a history of suicide bombings and other indiscriminate attacks against civilians, using civilians as shields, and preventing civilians under their control from escaping to government areas.

today, the Congress considers critical legislation to renew America's promise of prosperity and security for all of its citizens. I am pleased that the greatly needed relief provided in the American Recovery And Reinvestment Act includes…

It is not the Senate's intent to deduct the funding for victims compensation included in the economic recovery package from the grant money they would receive from regular VOCA formula grants. Through this bill, we intend to provide extra…

today, I am introducing the bipartisan State Secrets Protection Act. I am pleased that Senator Kennedy, who had so much to do with developing this proposal last Congress is an original cosponsor of the bill along with Senators Specter…

Our bill would actually give new tools for prosecutors to use in their fight against fraud.

We have to find out how you protect the money that is being spent on the road to recovery in this economy.

This is not a 'gotcha' hearing. This is a hearing where we are trying to move a significant piece of legislation backed by Democrats and Republicans.

As we all know, we are in the middle of trying to put together the stimulus package.

We have to rebuild and strengthen the Justice Department's ability to enforce Federal fraud laws.