We can already see... an increase in property values... a significant level multiplier from that original investment.

This nation cannot deal with the energy and climate challenges without addressing the transportation sector head on.

This nation cannot deal with our energy and climate challenges, without confronting the transportation sector.

We must rebuild and modernize our nation's transportation infrastructure in ways that are more energy efficient.

We have got to have that as the ultimate goal, that we have got to be looking at metropolitan areas.

All federally assisted transportation investments must address energy and climate concerns.

It seems like the red tape and the regulatory aspects that get in the way of communities like ours getting these projects off the ground.

I can think of no one better to help guide this Committee through our discussion on the reauthorization of Federal transit programs than John.

I think it is particularly important when we talk about things like the deferred maintenance... an investment in our economy.

I hope that we can produce a bill in this Committee that shows that our commitment to helping local transportation entities more adequately meet those needs is just as strong.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I assume that your view is that there is Federal authority now to be able to intercede, either through the Treasury or the Fed, with the VRDO market in some way that may give hospitals, public hospitals, schools, and other municipal credit…

If our markets were lubricated and were doing what they were supposed to be doing, we wouldn't be sitting here talking about investing taxpayers' money.

Mr. Chairman, thanks for holding the hearing. It is from this perspective truly a row of witnesses.

The water supplies are important in all parts of our country. But certainly in the West we, as in the Rocky Mountain West, we really know, living in an arid climate, the challenges that we face.

I think you can measure society's health with a number of different metrics. The energy supplies for one, based on where the accessibility, the affordability, the predictability, you could do the same thing with water and water supplies.

Technology that's best imitates Mother Nature.

Water plays a critical role in the production of the energy that powers our society, especially energy derived from fossil fuels.