Further delay is simply reckless. The bottom line is, rules and regulations aren't making our children sick-- pollution is.

Senator Lautenberg. A couple of questions.

I was encouraged by how the EPA issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Rules.

Senator Lautenberg. He is a generous man, also; he wasn't just mean, our Chairman.

I think as Ms. Patton said in her testimony, AP, big utility in the Midwestern part of our State, that they expect they are going to be able to comply at about one-third the cost of what they originally anticipated.

Did Maryland experience blackouts as a result of this law? Did you have blackouts in Maryland because of this law? No.

Isn't the U.S. the Saudi Arabia of coal?

we are well positioned to comply.

Did Maryland experience electricity price spikes? No price spikes, either.

Having said that, we also know now that burning coal, if we are not careful, if we are not smart about it, we can create enormous health problems for folks who happen to be downwind from us.

According to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 120 million people live within 50 miles of a nuclear reactor.

As President Harry Truman once said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

Commissioner Svinicki is a very critical member of this Commission.

The first option to me is the only way forward for America's energy future.

I think it was probably closer to a disaster myself.

I am very encouraged that the NRC has moved forward.

I think it is obvious that there are serious problems in the leadership of the Commission--in the chairman's office--and it needs to be confronted.

The President has called for an all-out, all of the above energy strategy.

I would urge the President to re-nominate her. She has the support of the Republican seat, and she has the support of the Republican leader.

I am concerned about the time lines for requiring plants to meet these safety standards.

This process should be allowed to continue free of partisan politics.

I am glad you made that clarification. Thank you for saying that.

I take pride in the fact that the United States is recognized as the Saudi Arabia of coal.

Mr. Chairman, nuclear power makes up about 80 percent of the French electricity supply.

I don't intend to let that happen. I am not going to let that happen, if I have anything to do about it, even if we have to bring the Senate to a grinding halt.