I wanted to ask Ms. Tumlinson, we will see how much time there is. Maybe the others could respond as well.

I would see as the EPA's war on coal and the shutdown of like half of the industry in the last couple of years.

I apologize. We had a meeting related to the coal industry and black lung.

Well, see that seems to me to make the most sense if we are talking about a public program, extension of Medicare or something else after that 2 years, because otherwise from what I see on the market it is just not worth it.

I hope that will soon change, and I welcome new Administrator Dominguez, who I believe understands these concerns.

Yet, two decades and four reauthorizations later, the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, has made little progress in my opinion in securing the safety of our nation's pipeline…

The vast network of transmission pipelines in this country are essentially 'out of sight, out of mind' for most Americans.

I hope the committee will consider adopting the stronger language of H.R. 4578, authored by Representative Brad Sherman.

to me the biggest scandal, if you will, in this whole system is the spend-down provision.

I appreciate what you are saying, but I hear it so often and it just galls me to think that we have set up a system where people are encouraged to basically get around it.

While I believe the draft could and should be much stronger, it is a good start and includes some important provisions on underground gas storage, pipeline safety, Technical Assistance Grants, and mandamus.

It is also critical that we provide the necessary tools--including funding--so the agency can attract the best and brightest inspectors.

While I have great respect for the courts, it is clear to me that the Ninth Circuit's reading of the Pipeline Safety Act was just plain wrong.

Seems like a common-sense tool for the agency to have. I am kind of shocked that they don't have it already.

Our committee has always produced the best and strongest pipeline safety legislation and I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Upton, Chairman Whitfield, Ranking Member Rush, Representative Capps, and colleagues on both sides…

I think we still need a strong right-to-know provision in law.

This simply cannot continue and I hope that today's hearing is the beginning of an ongoing conversation that leads to real action to address this crisis.

Today we face a long-term care crisis that is forcing millions of Americans to drain all of their resources before they get any support from the federal government.