moments ago, i had the distinct honor and high privilege of playing the reece at the tomb of the unknownmb of the unknow soldier. this morning, we are joined by those who know all too well the price paid by their loved ones. i met ruth, who lost her son christopher on the first night of major operions in afghanistan in october of 2001. imaging couple -- imojean cupp, the woman who played a pivotal role in vietnam. terry davis, the remarkable gold star sister, goldstar wife, and gold star mothers. none should be asked to sacrifice that much. and i also met the parents, the brother, and the beautiful widow of john howard. i had the privilege of meeting his family when i attended the memorial service in fort lewis in washington state. john sved in the striker brigade that was among the hardest hit in afghanistan. he left behind a wife, two young sons, and an infant daughter who he never got to make, but who i hope will grow up with a pride in her father filling part of the void that is loved by his loss. each of the goldstaramilies and bodies in the words of john milton, -- embodied in the

the problems at the incident command center that result in a slowing down of this response, agency reece -- requests must go through two levels of approval, first the request was go to the ico command approval, which typically takes less than a couple of hours. the final level approval comes level approvaluhc. sometimes it gets approved the next day or the day after. most requests take over five days. this timing is unacceptable for an effective response. when the [unintelligible] spilled into the mississippi river in 2008, the ceo of the command poss had full authority to obligate and engage funds. why is this not happening now? the current federal projects is $150 million, causing it to almost be depleted. there is more than $1 billion in the osltf principal fund. why hasn't congress allow the coast guard to borrow from ttis fund as it did when the barge broke in louisiana? the lack of action by congress is forcing the u.s. coast guard to ration the little money they have left, therefore slowing down the response. i don't know if that is true, but if it is, shame on us. i am not here t

over 35 day the problems at thencident command nter tharesultn a slowing down of this rponse, agency reece -- requests musto through two levels of approl, first the request waso to the ico comma approval, which typically takes less than a couple of hours. the finavel approval comes level approvaluhc. sometimes it getapproved the next day or the day after. most requests takever five days. this timing is unaccepble for an effective response. when the [unintelligible] spilled into the misssippi river in 2008, the ceo of the commd poss had full authority to obligate andngage funds. why is this not happening now? theurrent federal projects is $150 million, causing it to almo be depleted. theris more than $1 billi in th why hasn't congress allowed the coast guard for borrow from this fund as it did for the o.p.a. 90 when that barge broke in louisiana? the lack of action by congress has forced the coast guard to ration the little money they have left, therefore slowing down the response. i don't know if that's true, shame on us. i am not here to place blame. i am here to move forward. it has got