Patrick Leahy

The American people waiting for disaster assistance should not be victimized again.

What changes do you think can and should be made to the programs, especially NAP, in order to encourage more farmers to enroll to recover from these sorts of natural disasters?

Some of the most devastating damage caused by Hurricane Irene has been to the houses, mobile homes, and apartments where Vermonters have built their lives and made their homes.

One of the premier glass-blowing companies, Simon Pearce, is in there.

I have been begging HUD to send somebody up there on a permanent basis.

I just want to make sure you understand--I was looking at my numbers here.

I may sound a tiny bit perturbed.

Vermont is fiscally a very conservative State.

You had in hand 140 completed applications, but you only approved 24.

In my lifetime, I have never seen anything like that.

I am worried about what they might be doing in Vermont.

I am beginning to worry about the effectiveness of the SBA disaster loan program for businesses in Vermont.

I cannot thank the two of you enough for being here.

Americans should appreciate that, and they should learn to love the gridlock.

The Framers believed that would be the main protection of minorities--the main protection.

Our Constitution is intended to endure for ages . . . and consequently, to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.

I actually believe that such public discussions serve our democracy.

As public officials, we owe it to all Americans to be transparent about what we do in our official capacities.

This bill, once it becomes law, may require the agency to hire additional staff, and given the wording of section 10, ``Offset of Costs and Personnel,'' that could mean cutting costs or laying off other staff. However, I want to be sure…

Concerning section 8H, ``Removal and Assessment and Evaluation,'' we recognize that Peace Corps cannot guarantee or know with absolute certainty that a given site is safe. But we do want the agency to take all necessary steps to assess the…

With respect to section 8F(a)(3), concerning stalking, the mandate that the agency protect the confidentiality of volunteers who report stalking to ``the maximum extent practicable'' would not preclude the agency from taking appropriate…

Is it also correct that section 8E(a), ``Monitoring and Evaluation,'' is not intended to impose new requirements on the agency, nor to supersede current requirements in law, such as those of the Government Performance Results…

Is it correct that section 8C(d), ``Transition,'' is specifically intended to ensure that the Office of Victim Advocacy assists returned volunteers who are attempting to access services through the Federal Employees' Compensation Act…

The Senator from West Virginia is absolutely right. We have tens of billions of unspent dollars sitting in accounts for Iraq and Afghanistan for rebuilding roads and such there. Let's spend it in America. Let's spend it on America. It is…

I appreciate these answers, too. Senator Grassley and I share concerns about these programs working right.