Jerry McNerney

My daddy was a home builder, so I appreciate the work that you all do.

You clearly have a good grasp of it and you are sharing the wealth so it is understandable.

I just want to submit that that is a dubious plan and it is receiving federal resources despite the fact that the State has already got a large chunk of money that is unused.

that plan as currently drafted has serious environmental impacts in the entire delta including endangered species implications

There is significant political pressure to move forward with one plan without considering the alternatives.

we can pay down now, and the cost will be in treasure, or we can pay down later, and the cost will be treasure and blood.

Now, it is important to have a balance, I understand that. But my concern with this bill is that it could indefinitely delay or block critical public health and environmental protections for analysis of questionable value, in my opinion…

It continually amazes me that our friends on the other side of the aisle think of the EPA as the devil because before the EPA came along, we had the Love Canal, we had the Cuyahoga River catching on fire, and look, China doesn't have an…

I agree wholeheartedly with the 'all of the above' strategy, including nuclear.

I really think this is great testimony this morning.

The legislation focuses on the Whitfield bill. The draft legislation would block EPA's ability to issue standards to limit carbon pollution from new and existing coal-fired power plants.

The coal industry, and critics of the EPA's efforts to control carbon pollution from power plants are saying that carbon capture and storage technology is not feasible.

Well, I would say that it is virtually impossible, given what the legislation proposes, for coal-fired power plants to use CCS equipment that aren't receiving some sort of government subsidy, so I think the bill makes it impossible for EPA…

In light of that ad, what do you think the outlet for carbon capture and sequestration storage technology is?

Greenhouse gases pose a significant threat to our economy, to our public health, and to the environment.

In 2011, I am going to direct a question to you first, Ms. Tierney, the American Electric Power proposed to develop a large CCS plant in West Virginia.

climate change is a serious health threat to the citizens of this country, and, in fact, the world.

Mr. Hawkins, you mentioned that the benefits basically outweigh the costs.

What is your response to the argument that we should just wait for years, or even decades, before limiting the amount of carbon pollution that power plants can emit?

Well, is carbon capture and storage technology going to be widely deployed in the United States in the absence of a requirement to use it, or other strong policy driver?

Any coal plants in the country that don't receive any federal money?

If we do believe that climate change is happening, this bill is exactly the wrong way to go.

I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record two letters from organizations expressing concerns with, and opposition to, the proposed bill, due to its anticipated negative effects on climate and public health.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank you guys. This is a tough business.

I hope to hear testimony that responds and reflects the VA's solemn duty to deliver its benefits mission using world class 21st century inputs that focus on veterans instead of the processes.