Thank you for being willing to serve your country again.

I welcome both of you here and thank you, thank you for being willing to serve.

The Federal partnership in the Chesapeake Bay has been extremely valuable for promoting the appropriate type of remedial action.

Let me just concur with your comments, particularly on the California waiver.

We need to concentrate on reducing the nutrient levels that are suffocating the Bay.

The Federal partnership requires leadership, requires strategies based upon facts and science.

We need leadership. I know that you have indicated you planned to visit the Bay with me.

I have renewed faith that the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort under the Administration of President Obama will remain a Federal priority that deserves renewed attention and resources.

Thirty percent of the problems in regard to nitrogen oxide comes from the air into the Bay.

The clear science is that we have to regulate runoff issues.

I ask for your commitment to find ways in which EPA can play a constructive role in reducing the number of children in our Country that have been exposed to lead.

You need to have an effective way to determine whether there is toxic lead dust.

President-elect Obama has said that he looks forward to signing legislation that will return the traditional role of the Clean Water Act.

That's one of the highest priorities for us, to evaluate how we can modernize the Helsinki Commission and the OSCE process.

I particularly want to just underscore the challenge you're going to have in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

I think we could be more aggressive in trying to move forward.

I applaud the Chairman and Ranking Member for continually reminding all of us in the Senate about our responsibilities to balance the budget.

I would just like to have your assurance that the privatization initiatives are going to be reviewed very carefully.