I am glad you mentioned No Child Left Inside. Of course, Congressman Sarbanes has been the leader on that issue.

What can you do in working with local governments to have a more effective way of dealing with the stormwater issues affecting the bay?

We want to see them act in order to protect the environment.

It would be good to have clear direction in statute on these types of issues.

We want it to be based upon good science. We want it to be fair. We do want to create an undue burden on our economy.

I understand that you have been on your current job for, you said, 30 days and that the Obama administration is still in its first 100 days.

We must first recognize that the Chesapeake Bay Program has played a critical role in stemming the tide of pollution.

This hearing of the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works will come to order.

We look forward to Congressman Connolly's testimony.

I agree with Mr. Hutchison's point, that it has to be equal to the efforts being made by other sources of bay nutrients.

I think it is an opportunity perhaps for us to institutionalize a better public transparency on how decisions are made.

We need to think beyond just the current structure as to what structure will give you the tools you need to accomplish the results without imposing undue burdens on the private sector.

I could not agree with you more about your statement that Maryland farmers are willing to do more to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay if the programs are reasonable, economically feasible, based on sound science, and equal to the…

Without objection, we will include the report in our committee record for today's hearing.

Congressman Connolly raises a good point about the fact that you are dealing with so many different local governments within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The good news on the Chesapeake Bay is that there is broad consensus that we have got to take this to a new level.

We are at a D in our grading system and that is not acceptable. We are in poor quality. That is not acceptable.

Well, I think management is a critical issue.