the President's proposal goes the other away.

The Administration's supplemental budget request included absolutely nothing for our airlines, our airports, or our aviation workers.

I think the President made an excellent choice in asking that she be appointed as the permanent Administrator of that agency.

I want to try and understand, Mr. Secretary, what your strategy is in reaching out to these working poor families.

Will there be a formal comment period? That is a pretty important issue when we are dealing with thousands of forms that are going to families that have never been vetted before.

I offered an amendment to increase the size of the aviation relief package from $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion dollars.

The EITC is designed to help the working poor. It is probably the most targeted means-tested tax benefit in the entire Federal code.

We should be taking steps to allow more eligible families to get the help they need, but I think the President's proposal goes the other way.

The Northeast corridor and the non-Northeast corridor, will their cost-sharing requirements be identical?

Well, I will tell you that last month the Acting IRS Commissioner assured me that your agency would be getting a thorough evaluation of the impact of this new process on EITC participation before you expand your effort to 2 million working…

Our airlines, our airports, and our employees are facing an immediate crisis and they need our help.

Can you assure this subcommittee that U.S. funds will not be used to honor business deals negotiated by Saddam Hussein's regime?

I commend you, Mr. Chairman for once again holding a special hearing to focus on our highway safety challenges.

I was not actually asking about your rationale. I was asking, because you are sending 45,000 questionnaires out...

If the Supreme Court hears an appeal, it is likely that you will not get a decision well into 2004.

I just think Congress would be very troubled to see U.S. funds to reward those who supported Saddam Hussein and worked to undermine economic sanctions.

Those rumors of furloughs persist even if you were given more than 99 percent of what you requested for FAA Operations this year.

I want to publicly thank you for all the extra effort during these last few months.

I just hope you pay attention to the West because we are hurting.

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.

Especially when we are in an era of worrying about terrorist attacks and those kinds of things, are you going to be increasing the number of inspections for our foreign repair stations?

I don't have any other questions at this time. I just want to say I was--I don't know if I share your rosy scenario on the economy.

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

Unfortunately the news since our last hearing on this topic has not been good.

But you are going to take a look at what happens with the 45,000, and if we are seeing tons of delay...