Chairman Murray has been a leader on this issue for many years, and I appreciate her continuing focus on this issue.

Should Americans be able to drive across a highway bridge with the reasonable expectation that it will not crumble away from underneath them?

I urge the committee to fully support the U.S. Commercial Service.

If you close that tower, you are going to slow down operations.

We know that 10,000 fewer seniors receive 10,000 fewer meals delivered to them who currently receive their meals through the Meals on Wheels program.

I urge this committee to adequately fund the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

With regard to the sequester, what we do know is that about 1,200 civilian employees at the naval bases in the district will be furloughed.

Cutting Medicare and Medicaid will put additional financial pressure on millions of caregivers and threatens their short term and long term financial security.

I urge the committee to restore funding to STEP this year.

I urge this committee to fully fund the State Trade and Export Promotion program, or STEP, which helps States work with small- and medium-sized businesses to find new markets and overcome hurdles to exports.

I urge this committee to fully support the U.S. Commercial Service.

We also know that housing authorities in my district are making decisions now about which folks do not get vouchers, making the waiting lists longer because of the impact of the sequester.