Jay Rockefeller: “No one understands or appreciates these issues better than I do.”

I thank Senator Leahy for attempting to address my concerns about this bill. I thank his committee staff for working with my committee staff to insert clarifying report language.

Creating this program has been one of the most meaningful things I have done in my career in public service.

It is a really popular program.

Just as a follow-up to the question of funding which was addressed, CBO actually has come out with an estimate on what all of this would cost. It is not $20 billion; it is in the area of zero up to $10 billion over that period of 4 years.