Yes. One issue I wanted to bring to your attention quickly is the issue of suicides and suicide prevention...

If we can use this time to get significant funding in there to reduce the size of those sites, it will be cost effective in the future.

I wish it was in someone else's, but it is not. And I am responsible, as we all are, for making sure we fund that.

We have a moral and a legal obligation--I wish we did not, but we do--to clean up those sites.

We have to be smart and pragmatic and thoughtful in trying to remove those barriers.

In this time of economic turmoil, I can think of no better way to improve our economy and maintain that competitive edge for the coming decades than investment in skills for our students today to make sure they can secure good jobs…

It is tremendously important that we have somebody at the head of this agency who is really going to tackle a lot of issues to get this country back on track.

The mantra of the last 8 years has been No Child Left Behind. I would like to see that changed so that every child has the skill we need.

Making sure that we empower our local communities to provide a pathway for all of our students to the careers of tomorrow is extremely important.

As we discuss the best way to stimulate our economy, I believe three points are clear.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling this hearing to quickly move forward on the confirmation of Representative Solis as the next Secretary of Labor.

For years I've said that if we don't invest in the growth and development of America's workers, our families, our communities, and our Nation will suffer in the long run.

They need someone who believes--as I do--that investing in them is investing in our future.

But I'm encouraged that the Department of Labor will soon have a leader who will restore public confidence, in its ability to serve workers well.

Ensuring a smooth and timely transition for this critical Cabinet position sends an important message to America's workers that they are absolutely essential to our economic recovery efforts.

I am delighted that you are going to be leading us as we head into a very important healthcare discussion and, hopefully, move legislation this year.

I have been holding a number of hearings in my State to talk about the lack of healthcare providers that are out there, and there is a direct correlation with cost.

the American people have sort of lost faith in the leaders of our financial institutions, and they are skeptical that the Government has used taxpayer money wisely so far.

Well, in honesty in budgets, that is probably a proposal that is DOA when it gets here.

the efforts that have been made so far to strengthen our banks and unfreeze the credit markets and stabilize this housing market have really failed to generate any confidence with the American people or with the markets.

I am extremely concerned about some of our countries in Central and Eastern Europe who are seeing increasing financial instability.

I appreciate a budget that comes to us that addresses that, and at the same time says we have got to get our arms around some very critical issues--energy, health care, education--in order to make sure that we have a strong economy in the…

we are working with the administration to get a funding level of $6.5 billion for fiscal year 2010

I think that is so important. We have to understand that this is having a huge impact.

I want to make sure that we agree that the Federal Government has a moral and legal obligation to clean up those sites across the country.