It was the Congress, not the Environmental Protection Agency, that passed the Clean Water Act.

I do object to using the Chesapeake Bay and its clean up as a way to tell people that what is being asked is impractical and impossible to achieve.

If you are talking to the farmers, they think the farmers are the ones who are being picked on the most as far as dealing with the clean up of the Bay.

The Federal Government should take a lead in the overall clean up.

The Chesapeake Bay was in serious, serious trouble.

We are going to see some significant improvement, for example, in stormwater controls.

This hearing is going to concentrate on how far we have come and how far we still need to go.

Today is an opportunity to celebrate those successes and to highlight the strong efforts of all stakeholders.

What brings our Committee together, Democrats and Republicans, are ways that we can leverage investment, whether it is roads, bridges, transit systems or whether it is water infrastructure.

I would urge you to do this in a very open, transparent manner, as you are already suggesting, so the confidence this program has enjoyed for 30 years is maintained.

We have to have a tailored mission that deals with degrading and deterring the use of chemical weapons.

We understand that population growth will continue. People want to live in this area. That means there is more pressure on construction.

What is the timeframe for trying to get the parties together on the updated agreement?

I particularly want to thank Senator Boxer and Senator Vitter and Senator Boozman for their help in arranging this hearing.

I particularly want to thank my colleague, John Sarbanes, for being here.

Let me welcome you all to the field hearing of the Environment and Public Works Committee's Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife.

It is very clear from all of your testimony that, first, the public wants a clean Chesapeake Bay.

I firmly believe the Federal Government has an important role in ensuring that local governments can continue to provide clean and safe water.