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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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…

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

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.