Barbara Boxer

If we provide convenient, reliable and efficient mass transportation options, Americans will choose them.

We either hasten the effort to find alternatives, or run the risk of impairing the health of our children.

On June 30th, the EPA finally granted California's request for a waiver providing the green light to my State and more than a dozen others to tackle tailpipe emissions of global warming pollution.

In May, the President brought together the Federal Government, the State of California, and the auto industry behind a nationwide program to cut new carbon emissions from vehicles and raise gas mileage requirements.

The Obama administration has already taken important steps this year to address global warming pollution from motor vehicles.

As we work to pass legislation that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create millions of clean energy jobs, and protect our children from pollution, we need to consider global warming pollution from the transportation sector.

I am so pleased to be able to be here today to introduce an outstanding nominee for Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the Department of Transportation, Ms. Polly Trottenberg.

The stakes for our Nation in the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill are high.

A lot of people are hurting out there.

I think it is an exciting time. It is a time of change. We have a big job to do.

We do not want them just wasting away or sitting there because somebody did not get their act together.

If you could get us an answer in writing ASAP on that one. Just get back to us.

If confirmed, do you commit to work to ensure that EPA's voluntary programs reward the best companies, those leaders who go beyond what is required?

I would urge the Administration to do whatever they can to stay on top of it and let people now they are under contract to get this done within a year because we need the jobs and we need the work done.

I would urge you to do your best with your staff, because this recession is very prolonged, it started in 2007.

I think you are doing great getting 62 percent. When do you think you will have 90 percent?

Well, the President has to sign it for it to become a law or we have to override a veto.

I do believe whether a wetland drains into a stream or a river, that is a different issue for me.

I have no intention of putting a pothole under the Federal Government's jurisdiction.

You each bring a wealth of experience and a record of dedication to achieving EPA's mission of protecting public health and the environment.

Energy efficiency is our cleanest, cheapest, easiest fuel.

We want to get the carbon out of the air. I am not ideological on how to do that.

So we are going to definitely look at that.

But you know what? Do not be so sure about that, because I think there are a lot of people that want to benefit from that.

We think that CBO is off base for the following reasons in terms of their scoring provisions regarding allowance values for energy efficiency.