We are very proud of his public service. We thank you very much for your continued willingness to want to serve our Nation.

the Federal Government does have to treat like employees similarly.

Let me just stress, I think there are several parts to this concern.

He has good judgment and unquestioned integrity, and I think that really sums it up.

The backlog of deferred maintenance is overwhelming.

the guidance would be based upon the best science, and not political considerations

I think most people agree that the Endangered Species Act is one of the most important safeguards that was enacted by Congress in order to preserve diversity in our wildlife, and that decisions should be based upon good science, good…

The nominee is charged with restoring the role good science must play in making good public policy.

I would hope that the strategy that you come out with within the Department of Interior will be mindful that you can play a dual role in educating the public to take action to help the future.

we are currently losing about 150 acres a year because of sea level change

One of the problems we have is that many Americans have yet to really understand the day to day risks associated with global climate change.

We need your full attention focused on restoring the integrity of the ESA process.

I certainly hope that the Committee can complete its review quickly and that your nomination can go to the floor for action.

the merit principles, which basically say we should hire people who can do the job because they have the skills to do the job and we evaluate them by how well they do that job and nothing else.

I wholeheartedly endorse his nomination and recommend to the Committee that we move quickly on his confirmation.

I think that if we are going to have a color-blind society, then we should have a color-blind society that goes to the point of eliminating this wall that blocks so many people from opportunity.

The most painful thing about it... is that they go through all of that, denied opportunity over and over again, and then they die.

They have done it over. And over and over and over again they see and feel the wind from a door being shut in their faces over and over and over again.