What I don't want to see is us 2, 3 years from now having spent even more money on this saying that it is going to go into cold storage.

I think we have effective programs with the IAEA. We support the IAEA quite strongly.

We have the world on the verge of nuclear weapons proliferation. That is the reality.

We cannot let something happen here.

In terms of, again, prioritization--and we all have to make hard choices--we cannot react to a nuclear incident.

Perhaps one of the most important things that you and I can do in our time of public service is to ensure that we decrease the probability of the use of a nuclear device to as close to zero as possible.

I want to emphasize something that Congressman Frelinghuysen said.

Is there a right to nuclear power?

It seems to me, by our proposed reductions in terms of our contribution, it is an admission that the chaotic management of that international effort is a very significant problem.

If I could interrupt, that is an excellent point.

Malaysia's defense chief arriving in Hawaii were able to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and possibly ask for more U.S. military assets designed for deep water search and recovery.

The overwhelming message that I have heard from these important stakeholders is that the Federal process required for building roads is overly burdensome, and it needs to be more flexible.

Do you think maybe this committee and this Senate needs to look at how we address the categorical exclusions on projects?

Thank you for the effort on the Western Clear Creek Water Flood Control Project. You became intimately familiar with that, and helped provide the robust funding.

Is there a war on coal? You know, a lot of people in Nebraska think there is because we have those coal-fired plants.

I have some concerns maybe that we are seeing our coal-fired electric plants in Nebraska.

Budget hearings are a fundamental responsibility of this committee.

We must work together to pursue a path forward that continues both these environmental and economic achievements.