Barbara Boxer

MAP-21 also made improvements to make TIFIA assistance more practical and usable for all regions of the Country, particularly rural areas.

We are here today to conduct oversight of the TIFIA Program which we greatly expanded in MAP-21.

The TIFIA Program provides direct loans, loan guarantees and lines of credit to surface transportation projects at favorable terms.

The additional funding for TIFIA in MAP-21, including leveraging, will support 1 million jobs.

We have an oversight responsibility. We have a responsibility to challenge the way that the Administration is administering the laws.

I strongly support the three nominees and I hope that we can move them promptly to the floor.

Each of us would have our own definition of where there should be some Federal regulation.

I think the fact that you did take a break and you did go to the private sector should give them a good feeling that you know how life looks from that side.

I just want to say you should be voted out of this committee with enthusiasm.

Senator Vitter, our ranking member, has been working in a bipartisan fashion with Senator Lautenberg to introduce the Chemical Safety Improvement Act.

I am proud of you all, I am proud of your families, and I really am going to do everything in my power to personalize this.

I have to tell the committee something.

So I just want to thank colleagues for being here today because I just can't imagine how anyone here listening to each of you could question your qualifications, your experience, and, frankly, your humility that you bring to the table; and…

I want you to know in the polls our favorable approval in the Senate is 9 percent, and the EPA is 70 percent favorable.

We are in better shape if we carry out our responsibility.

I am hopeful that you will gain support for this position.

Obviously, the jurisdictional issue that Senator Crapo raised is an important one, and I think we need to resolve that so that there is not uncertainty for people who are out there wondering whether regulations apply.

The confirmation of qualified individuals to lead agencies is one of the Senate's most important responsibilities.

I want to just take a moment and say that our friend, Senator Lautenberg, was a lifelong champion on this issue and had a 95 percent lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.

I think it is important to note that the two Republican witnesses, there is nothing wrong with this, but I think it is important to note where the funding for your organizations comes from.

We are going to have to keep it moving, David.

I want to see you talk about why you think it is, in fact, a growth industry or not.

Not only can he put it into the record, we will... put in anything you want.

We have to move it on.

The time for waiting is over. We need bold action.