The Senate is a wonderful institution, we've actually had three astronaut Senators--John Glenn, Jake Garn, and Bill Nelson.

It's for $18.7 billion--$1 billion above the omnibus level--and also, NASA has received $1 billion in the American recovery stimulus package.

I also want to pay tribute to Senator Jake Garn... we worked together to do many sound things to achieve a balanced space program.

I really want to pay tribute to both Senator Glenn... he was a learned counselor and adviser to help me really understand the breadth and depth of the American Space Program.

Hey guys, I just want you to know that you have made the spring in the step of every American a little bit bouncier by what you all have accomplished.

These are parents, these are grandparents, and these are young people. I think it's important that we move with great aggression, not only in the State of Florida, but also in other parts of the country.

One of the things I want to bring to the attention of the Committee is that unemployment in Florida is 9.4 percent, and in other parts of the State it's even higher.

When you run into these kinds of situations, and folks start saying, 'Well, I'm more loyal to my own personal principle,' meanwhile, they're not maxed out on their credit cards, they're not waiting in line for a job.

I'm really pleased, once again, on the second round of questioning, that we're having this discussion and panel of witnesses.

As public servants, we try to assist these individuals, many of whom are our constituents, who are trying to pull their own weight.

the dollars that they'll receive in unemployment benefits while they're looking for another job will be able to assist businesses and help our economy.

I'm asking this entire panel to help me with the arguments, because there's legislation filed in the State legislature in the House, and also in the Senate.

We have a number of folks that are out of work. Many of these individuals, the only jobs that are out there are part-time jobs.

Under the stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Department of Energy (DOE) received $5.1 billion to address a substantial backlog of these cleanup projects.

So, when you use the term 'shovel-ready,' you're talking about the projects you've just described.

Okay. Now, let me ask you, on the stimulus bill projects, how did you decide what projects were going to be funded?

The timetable in which you're going to do it, that's negotiated, as well?

Can you share with us how you determined what the cleanup level would be?