myself and Representative Scanlan are pleased that Chairman Udall and Senator Risch have introduced the National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act of 2009.

the bill would designate insect and disease emergency areas.

The area I wanted to focus on, but I also wanted to follow up on what Senator Warner was asking about--the first area is, these other countries where they've had attacks, you know the Moscow subway, what went on in Madrid and London--are…

This legislation holds historic significance not only to Japanese Americans, Californians, but for Americans nationwide.

The topic of reducing greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide emissions, remains of great concern to this committee and to myself.

I would like to thank Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski.

we look forward to working with Senator Casey, Senator Barrasso, Chairman Bingaman and the rest of the Committee to advance CCS in the context of comprehensive climate and energy legislation.

opening statement

I strongly support the Broadband Plan's recommendation to establish an Office of Tribal Government Affairs at the FCC.

The biggest cause of damage to bridges are large overweight trucks.

I am a cosponsor of that legislation. I think it is needed, and I hope that we can move on that at some point.

Each day we use the transportation system to get to work, school, shopping and play.

While fatalities have been declining each year, nearly 34,000 people lost their lives on America's roads last year.

the unfortunate reality is that our transportation system is often far from safe.

Madam Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing on transportation safety. It is a critical issue for us to address as we work through the reauthorization process.

I have heard that this sort of culture change has occurred in metro areas that have a larger proportion of bicyclists and that their roads are safer for all users as a result.

What is needed is a sanction because we have hit the wall in a number of States in opposition.

A society that would sacrifice essential liberties for short-term security deserves neither.