I have always been a proponent of regulatory reform, but I don't think regulations are--I don't think regulations per se have values attached to them.

In January of this year, President Obama issued an Executive order directing Federal agencies to develop plans for improving the regulatory system.

I think we really need to grapple with what we are going to do.

what are we going to do with the nuclear waste that we have sitting around at all of the sites around the country?

there certainly would be a shortage of storage capacity even with that.

even if we did certify Yucca Mountain, that facility, at least according to the original plan, was statutorily limited to 70,000 metric tons, correct?

I think it is important, if we are really going to look at development of nuclear energy, not just to say well, we think that we can safely store the spent fuel on site the way we are now.

Open government practices are integral to ensuring public confidence and respect for Government institutions, and Congress has a duty to conduct vigilant oversight to ensure sunshine in the executive branch, regardless of which political…

I am not saying that you should have registered lobbyists, but every so often it might be appropriate, if disclosed.

it appears that we're not holding a hearing to gather facts but, rather, to provide a forum for Members to air allegations about the White House.

What you want is, A, disclosure and, B, people not working if they have the conflicts of interest.

Has any administration, Democrat or Republican, before the Obama administration, routinely posted these WAVES records on line?

But when you cut through all of that partisan bickering, all of us would agree that we want to have open disclosure.

Frankly, I would like to see ways to disclose on the video people who come to the White House and so on.

These principles are important elements of a democracy. They represent basic principles of good government that transcend administrations, partisan politics, and the politics and issues of the moment.

I actually have the list. And I am sure it is on your Web site, so you could get it, too.

To date, there are over 1.25 million White House visitor records posted on the White House Web site in a searchable format; is that right?

There's nothing wrong with somebody going out for a cup of coffee. There is something to me that looks bad if somebody is holding a meeting at a coffee shop to avoid disclosure.

The Obama administration has a strong transparency record and, frankly, it is perfectly appropriate that Congress conduct oversight of these policies and look into whether these policies are in fact being followed.

we don't need this kind of partisanship. Either we have disclosure or we don't.

I am pleased that President Obama has prioritized transparency and has acted to back up these promises.

By removing EPA's ability to regulate coal ash under subtitle C, the bill guarantees that coal ash disposal in States with inadequate or even nonexistent regulations will continue without essential controls on dangerous dumping.

If Federal standards are not made mandatory, there will be a significant disproportional impact on low-income communities and communities of color--our Nation's most vulnerable communities.

No, this bill does not serve the Nation. This bill focuses very narrowly on only one aspect of the Nation's enormous coal ash problem--namely, the benefits of recycling a portion of the ash.

I hope Commissioner Hamburg can help convince my Republican colleagues to reconsider their proposed cuts to the FDA budget.