Homeland Security

The House majoritys funding bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011, H.R.1, takes a serious bite out of our efforts to prevent and treat drug abuse and thereby reduce demand for the cartels poisonous commodities...to put it simply, H.R. 1 would set our national drug control efforts back by over a billion dollars. It would rob Peter to pay Paul, cutting programs that reduce demand while maintaining those targeted at the supply of drugs.

Your agency is the last line of defense for our aviation sector, and while significant improvements have been made, the high threat environment we face makes plain the need to close any critical gaps that remain.

This is basically a current services" budget, with a 1.4 percent increase from 2010 generally permitting the agency to operate at the same level from 2010 through 2012. But Mr. Assistant Secretary, as with the rest of DHS, you have been asked to tighten your belt this year with regard to a number of your agencys programs."

As we begin this hearing to more closely examine your 2012 budget, its important to note that no program or account will be off limits to scrutiny. Our obligation is to take a balanced, realistic approach; to weigh risks carefully, and make prudent investments. Commissioner Bersin, I have no doubt that you share this point of view, and I look forward to working with you this year.

Price Letter"This nation is facing a crisis concerning job loss for firefighters"