I am one that believes there is a role the government can play in advancing a lot of these things.

I jokingly, or half-jokingly, told them when I was down at Rocky Flats that we did not really clean up Rocky Flats, we just shipped it to Idaho.

But anyway, thank you all. Thank you for the job you are doing.

And we, in fusion energy, we cut the ITER by $15 million, and domestic fusion energy research by what, $40 million?

Overall, it was about 90--$90 million cut on that.

Just remember, when you are out making cars more efficient, fuel efficient, with better batteries, all those improvements, you are screwing up our funding source to pay for those roads.

Several years ago the Department of Energy transitioned all isotope-production programs to the Office of Science.

Do you think you will have some estimates on what the cost is? Or will you have to submit a reprogramming request to the Committee?

So we do not know yet or have any idea yet about what the potential cost is--bigger than a bread box, smaller than a space shuttle, somewhere in there?

Well, I would encourage you, and I know you are very good at this, so it probably does not need the encouragement, but keep the Committee informed and the staff informed when you get down there and find out what the challenges are that we…

There are always surprises in this business.

One of the questions that has come up is the fact that we have discovered new leaking tanks that are out there.

I have great appreciation for the importance of the issues under its jurisdiction.

We must also look ahead to the future of nuclear reactor technology.

Assuming I live to the average lifespan of the American male will I ever see any glass manufactured there?

I am very concerned about indications that America is losing her competitive advantage in many emerging energy technologies.

We think it is a possibility. It looks very good, certainly in paper studies.

One of the things that this committee is always looking at is not only, when we approve something, what it means in the current fiscal year but what it means in future fiscal years.