Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing today.

Mr. Secretary, your FAA administrator is about to enter into new labor negotiations with most of her unions, and one thing that could certainly sour those negotiations is the current talk we have heard about the potential for furloughs of…

I joined with you in that decision and with the help of your FTA Administrator and Inspector General, a lot of progress has been made.

I would just say that I think there is a real concern that we are not hiring those fast enough to meet that 3-year requirement.

Let me turn to Amtrak. I earlier pointed out that you are seeking a 22 percent cut in the total level of funding for Amtrak.

I second what Senator Brownback was discussing with you in terms of the airline industry.

I think it is a very important question, Mr. Secretary, and we would like to hear from you as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the fiscal year 2004 budget request for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) fails to recognize the workforce needs of this country.

I'm really disappointed that the fiscal year 2004 budget request for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration fails to recognize the workforce needs of this country.

Last Friday's March unemployment report brought more bad news for the working men and women of this country.

But it is a program that provides to specific industries, correct?

Mitch Daniels said in his letter, and I quote, to provide benefits for a specific industry would be unusual, unfair, and potentially harmful to our national unemployment system.

At a time when American workers are suffering continuing economic hardship and record long-term joblessness, the Bush budget proposes a cut of $678 million for Workforce Investment Act-funded programs.

I was really disappointed yesterday to see the President's opposition to a temporary extension of unemployment insurance benefits to our unemployed airline industry workers who have lost their jobs.

To specific industries. So under the standard that an unemployment extension for airline industries is, and I quote: 'unfair and potentially harmful because it provides benefits for a specific industry, and by the same standard, trade…

We're seeing tremendous suffering across the country in terms of economic hardship and record long-term joblessness.

The unemployment extension merely helps these people through a difficult time in our Nation's economy through tragic circumstances that have occurred in the airline industry beyond anybody's control.

There isn't enough money in the workforce system now.

you keep arguing that employment and training services can be accomplished without impacting service delivery

I think we have made a lot of progress on reducing gender bias, but I am still deeply concerned...

There is kind of this assumption out there that NIH only funds politically correct diseases...

Can you give us any kind of time line on that?

Let me just ask you, do you foresee a scenario where the President would veto the supplemental if we do add $3 plus billion for aviation?

In your opinion, should we just back off? I am hearing some of the Administration just say we should just back off...

I think it is the Europeans who have declared a trade war on this country, and I think we need to push back.