I want to thank Chairman Miller. Thank you for holding this hearing today.

I have since sent or signed onto seven additional letters regarding this proposal.

I appreciate former Secretary Shinseki agreeing to meet with the Save the VA Committee per our request.

Everyone here is looking for ways that we can make our roads safer.

I hope you also heard that I declined the chairmanship.

I submitted a question for the record on the impacts of the hours-of-service rules.

if America is going to achieve a robust and a very full recovery, American businesswomen will be the ones playing an important role in that.

I find that very concerning.

I introduced recently a microfinance bill which I think will help not just women entrepreneurs but all Americans in helping small businesses to grow.

I think it's a good way for the agencies to operate.

EPA's work is of great consequence to our country and to my home State of Nebraska--impacting everything from agricultural practices to energy production.

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

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.

We simply must have more transparency and accountability when it comes to the underlying scientific justifications for these rules.

Budget hearings are a fundamental responsibility of this committee.

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

A clean and healthy environment is important to us all.

I am very concerned about the water rules that are coming out from EPA.