Well, as you know, we're working through a difficult period in our financial markets right now, as we work off some of the past excesses. But the American people can remain confident in the soundness and the resilience of our financial system.

It is the policy of the federal government to use all resources at its disposal to make our financial system stronger.

Payment systems are critically important for overall market stability. On a typical business day, U.S. payment and settlement systems settle transactions valued at over $13 trillion.

I think all governments engage in intelligence gathering vis-a-vis other governments.

I don't see (subprime mortgage market troubles) imposing a serious problem. I think it's going to be largely contained.

When you have a big, ugly problem, there's never going to be a neat, elegant solution that is totally painless or without a cost.

I believe that the root cause of every financial crisis, the root cause, is flawed government policies