Barbara Boxer

We are a country of laws, not people, no matter how strongly we feel.

There were huge lawsuits. They settled the matter for hundreds of millions of dollars.

But I do have to correct the record, because you quoted me as saying it is appropriate to ask about carbon pollution. What I said was that this is a hearing on safe drinking water.

I just have to say, you make me very proud, as Senator from California.

We are going to absolutely look at the science of carbon pollution and its impact on our people, on our planet.

Because greenhouses gases fit well within the Clean Air Act's definition of air pollutant, we hold that EPA has the statutory authority to regulate the emission of such gases.

If we find that perchlorate is a danger, and we have proved it to the water districts and we have proved it to everyone, I think the water districts should support it and say, we will be honest, we are going to need help in doing it.

We can't stop the science or telling the truth to the American people.

It has to be technologically, economically feasible. It has to have a cost benefit analysis.

The bills introduced by Chairwoman Boxer last week would require EPA to set enforceable drinking water standards for perchlorate and chromium-6 no later than 1 year after the enactment of each measure.

That is in detectable levels, I am assuming, above the level that you are looking at setting a standard at?

The Bush administration never did set a drinking water standard for perchlorate, leaving millions of Americans in dozens of states at risk.

I have urged the Federal Government to address chromium VI.

Perchlorate is a toxic chemical contained in rocket fuel. It does not belong in our drinking water.

We need to know cost benefit.

The mission that you undertake every day, Administrator Jackson, is critically important to children and to families.

I do know that John Mica was very supportive of having a much larger investment in infrastructure back at the time of the stimulus.

Maybe there is a way that we could talk about jobs for our wounded warriors.

I think you hit the nail on the head there, and you worked your way to it, that knowing that you had this reliable stream, we have to fight it out every year.

Investing in transportation infrastructure is a jobs program that would help put our Country back to work.

We need Congress to pass a well-funded highway and transit program this year that is also multi-year.

Senator Boxer. We do have, and Bettina is reminding me, we have a bipartisan meeting planned with all of the groups, Boxer-Inhofe are calling it.

Your words are music to my ears, because I am a big believer in working with the stakeholders.

I think this is a really important point for every member of this committee. We are going to have to work hard to get this taken care of, sooner rather than later, or our States are not going to be moving forward with projects.

The unemployment numbers in construction, as bad as they are, which is, depression numbers would have even been worse if we didn't have the stimulus.