But you understand our concern.

I have been concerned because my responsibilities on the--one of the subcommittees, one of these subcommittees' appropriations, about nuclear security.

I do not know what Liberty Shield dollars--I do not know what that means.

For those of us who are trying to respond to our constituents at home, it seems like this is a catch-22 that you----

Explain again why it is not being drawn down, because my State is desperate for monies.

the administration has chosen to request an additional 7-8 percent. Again, over the long-term, this is very short-sighted.

funding for research in the hard sciences is one of the very best and most appropriate investments of taxpayer dollars that Congress can make.

this was a wise decision that I hope will be followed-up with robust budget requests.

I plan to work aggressively with Ranking Member Byrd, Chairman Stevens and Chairman Domenici to ensure that this Subcommittee gets the resources needed to fund these two vital organizations properly.

Senator Reid and I, with great help from Senator Stevens, last week led the fight here in the Senate to add significant sums to the fiscal year 2003 supplemental to cover projected heightened security costs that the Department did not…

You were visionary in being able to do it.

Chairman Domenici has never tolerated the Department treating his State or any other State or any locality shabbily.

They are that far away.

Yes, I think it would be a good idea, don't you?

I think it has worked extremely well.

My only point is, and I have been saying this for sometime, and others, it is not just me, that we would be better off if we had the transportation studies done before you do the license application.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

We need to turn to the higher dollar totals you are getting now and for the next few years into verifiable progress in getting clean-ups done more quickly and at lower cost.