He assured lawmakers that the department is able to respond to judicial orders or requests from a district attorney to locate property in its possession.

But Ms. Glaspie assured lawmakers that the Iraqis had changed her words.

With questions and complaints growing about the legislation, Mr. Ridge assured lawmakers that the president would work with them on the details of the bill.

Mr. Kaifu, pressed by Parliamentary critics, has been on the defensive for most of the last week, repeatedly assuring lawmakers and voters that any forces sent abroad would avoid combat or even dangerous situations.

Mr. Wright said Mr. Hudson had called the leaks reprehensible and had assured lawmakers that they did not come from his office.

But Mr. Raines repeatedly assured skeptical lawmakers at the hearing that Fannie Mae had complied with the accounting rules and that it would be exonerated.

Rather, he said, he wanted to assure top lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the money Washington sends to New York "will be well spent."

House Republican leaders and White House officials won passage of the Medicare bill in November 2003 by assuring wavering lawmakers that it would cost no more than $400 billion from 2004 to 2013.

President Bush appeared to turn back the movement for a special session of Congress on the Persian Gulf crisis today by assuring lawmakers that he would consult with the before using force.

But he went out of his way to assure lawmakers that the economy had not yet reached the point at which the Fed would contemplate bringing interest rates up.