The Federal partnership in the Chesapeake Bay has been extremely valuable for promoting the appropriate type of remedial action.

President-elect Obama has said that he looks forward to signing legislation that will return the traditional role of the Clean Water Act.

The Federal partnership requires leadership, requires strategies based upon facts and science.

The clear science is that we have to regulate runoff issues.

Thirty percent of the problems in regard to nitrogen oxide comes from the air into the Bay.

I welcome both of you here and thank you, thank you for being willing to serve.

I applaud the Chairman and Ranking Member for continually reminding all of us in the Senate about our responsibilities to balance the budget.

Thank you for being willing to do this and to your entire family. I know it was a difficult decision.

That's one of the highest priorities for us, to evaluate how we can modernize the Helsinki Commission and the OSCE process.

I think we could be more aggressive in trying to move forward.

I would just like to have your assurance that the privatization initiatives are going to be reviewed very carefully.

I particularly want to just underscore the challenge you're going to have in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

I opposed the privatization initiative of the Bush administration, the OMB Revised A-76 Circular.

One week from now, we will be heading to the platform for the inauguration of President-elect Obama.

Could you work with us to identify those things where it is too many good-old micro line-item programs?

I think you are a high-altitude, high-achieving guy, and I think you will absolutely lead our Department of Education.

I believe that is how we will be able to deliver for the American people.

I want you to know, Senator Enzi really helped me be able to work on a bipartisan basis to be able to do that.