I think it is very clear that the China and North Korea relationship is probably the worst it has ever been.

I think the most effective thing that happened in the run-up to the summit was the administration at all levels communicating very clearly to the Chinese side this is not going to happen anymore.

I think the interesting thing about that is that to some degree I think the Sony attack actually helped facilitate the agreement we just signed.

There is opportunity for our two sides to be able to engage on this, especially on the issue of regime implosion scenarios.

I would be shocked if the issue was not very clearly communicated to the Chinese side.

It is almost epidemic proportions.

I want assurances that the VA will release those records to the family.

If we cannot hold individuals in the VA health care system and, quite honestly, any manager within the Federal Government accountable, we are going to continue to have problems within all these agencies.

Why is retaliation so rampant within the Federal Government?

the touchstone quality that makes any organization successful is accountability.

I want to know every individual who was involved in writing this report.

it is enormously difficult apparently for department heads, Secretaries, top-level management to hold those people that retaliate against whistleblowers accountable.

Without proper oversight from our representative in Congress, it makes it even more difficult for us whistleblowers in Puerto Rico.

Let me assure everybody, Senator Ernst, all the witnesses, everybody in the audience, there is a process to solving a problem, and this is the first step.

This is not just talk. This will result in action.

Four thousand. That would be the retaliation complaints.

I encourage whistleblowers, if you feel uncomfortable talking to your Office of Inspector General, if you feel uncomfortable talking to your direct supervisor about these things, come to our Committee, and we will certainly hear your story…

Those people ought to be rewarded, not retaliated against.

the whistleblowers in Puerto Rico's facility really need the help from this Committee to ensure that whistleblower retaliation does not keep on happening at our facility

We need a permanent Inspector General so we have a transparent and independent Office of Inspector General.

I think every member of this Committee has become more upset as we hear this.

I have heard, since I joined this committee, and from this administration, that we need to find a political solution, and I am wondering if that is really a realistic goal.

there is no way I could have started my business and grown it to the point I have in today's regulatory environment.

I do not know about you, but all I see Vladimir Putin doing is biding his time looking for on-ramps.

Why do we talk about a political solution when, let us face it, we are not going to have a political solution until there is a military victory.