It is really tough to change course. I think we are trying to get the team pulling together, and I am encouraged it may be starting to happen.

Mr. Kotz, in your May 2011 report you indicated the SEC grossly overestimated the amount of office space it needed.

Let me just ask, what were they thinking?

Did you ever ask? Did you ever ask what are you guys thinking?

EPA also exempted biomass from its greenhouse gas regulations, something that creates a great deal of flexibility.

We have to find the will to raise the revenues.

Let me conclude by just saying to my colleagues, I do not know if the first time I heard of this Presidential Executive Order was at the State of the Union address.

I mention that because we might more easily find ways to finance our transportation system...

I was very pleased in 1993 when President Clinton issued his Executive Order and called for making sure that we are trying to figure out what is the cost-benefit analysis when you promulgate regulations across Federal agencies.

This is a military and security and economic problem of the highest order.

My staff, when they were putting together my schedule, they weighted this hearing today as a low priority.

Congress tends to respond, frankly. It doesn't lead a lot.

We are getting significant responses from the public. I have been cc'd on a bunch of letters saying these are bad.

I would like to welcome our witnesses to this important hearing.

So I just urge us all to keep working on this.

I think the Nation's engineers have evaluated our transportation infrastructure and given it a grade D as in delta.

This is a high priority for our country and for me, as well, so thank you.

The President, both in this Executive Order and in the Chamber of Commerce speech and in the State of the Union Address, emphasized that we are having a government-wide review of the existing regulations.

I proposed, along with former Senator George Voinovich, that we raise the Federal gasoline tax about a penny a month for 15 months.

I think that today, more than ever, Americans understand the need to develop domestic sources of renewable energy, and the need for us to become energy independent.

I think the Commission, when you are re-licensing, have to look at this as if it is a new opportunity.

In each of your minds, what are the metrics for success for the President's plan?

Very nice of you to say that. Thanks very much for being a big part of that.

if it is not perfect, make it better.

What I want to make sure is that we figure out what the problems are, the major problems are, and to make sure through executive action and through legislative action that we are actually going after the root problems.