What is the role for the Federal Government in the strategy for a multi-jurisdictional body of water, such as Chesapeake Bay?

Let me just mention one other concern that has been brought to my attention from the agricultural community, and the reason why they believe that Federal action may be necessary for an interstate nutrient trading program.

We have a responsibility to find the most efficient ways to accomplish our objectives.

I know there is concern by the individual States that without some direct guidance from the Federal Government that is a challenge to try to organize an interstate trading program.

I would suggest that it is not really EPA's role to get into that level of detail.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins, for your testimony. You are the person who can make a wastewater treatment plant sound very exciting.

at some point the public rebels and all of a sudden does not support any longer which is otherwise such a positive step

I agree with that.

We need a national discussion.

There has been way too much documentation. I don't want to go into it again.

Our job has to be to make certain that the GSA is treating the entire region with the fairness that taxpayers deserve.

What is the overall cost to the taxpayer and how are we saving the taxpayer money?

There is only one jurisdiction in the National Capital region that is treated differently, and that is Prince George's County in Maryland.

I would urge each of you in your agencies, but most especially GSA, to be in the driver's seat, to be in the driver's seat when it comes to making those determinations.

the cost of this inaction is not nothing, and we are seeing that in the results in the economy.

I want to ensure that others share in my excitement and one day experience the thrill of American astronauts traveling to and exploring a surface far beyond our Earth.

But before we look at interim steps, we need first to understand what it takes to get to Mars.

I think it has been quite unfortunate that the Agency has been put in a position of having a lot of ideas thrust into its basket and none of the money that is required to perform at the--in the kind of way that we need it to.