Tom Carper

I just want to emphasize again the continuing importance to me of the Providence River Pilings Removal Project.

Our country must become more proactive, addressing climate change before the storms arrive and preventing these massive losses.

I always felt that leadership is the single most important ingredient in the success of any organization I have been a part of.

We absolutely have to deliver on this historic level of investment.

As the Senator from the lowest lying State, I have already referenced it once today. But sea level rise and extreme weather are becoming more and more of a cause for concern.

And don't forget those pilings.

Delaware is the lowest lying State in our Nation. Our State is sinking, and the seas around us are rising.

When we passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill this Committee provided the foundation for the water side, drinking water, wastewater, flood issues.

It is hard for me to think of a single piece of infrastructure more consequential to our economy than the Soo Locks.

So following the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I led a letter, along with seven of our Great Lakes Senators, to the Administration supporting the portion of the Corps' new construction to fully fund the Soo Locks…

This is not the end of the conversation; it is the beginning of the conversation.

It helps to limit the cost of missed opportunities, promotes better planning, provides better transparency, and results in more fiscally and I think environmentally sound projects.

We want to make sure that people in this country know what is happening, and that we don't hide our candle under a bushel.

Could you assign someone to help us deal with the cost per fish ratio, which seems to create a real problem for small dams?

This is important stuff, especially for those of us on the coasts of our country.

Earlier this year, I asked General Graham if the Corps accounts for climate change in project design. He answered yes.

I would like to offer a conversation on that one, sir, and would welcome any flexibility we could get.

We don't come together on a lot of big issues on a bipartisan basis these days. But we did pass on a strong bipartisan basis the comprehensive bipartisan infrastructure legislation.

We need fish passage in order to keep the environment working and allow the, what do they call them, the anadromous fish to get up the river.

The seven most severe storms since 2000 cost our country a total of $1.3 trillion.

In my view, something you have to sail around is the very definition of a hazard to navigation.

I come to the floor this afternoon to talk about my friend Bob Dole, who was laid to rest last week. Before I do that, I want to just take a moment to express our heartfelt thoughts and sorrow at the loss of so many lives in more than a…

Thanks for that response. Mr. Chairman, my time has expired. I would like to have, if I could, 20 seconds to ask a question for the record.

As the Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee I fully realize the critical importance of PFAS contamination.

I personally feel a great sense of urgency to take steps that will hopefully provide relief that affected communities, families, and particularly our most vulnerable infants and children, so desperately need.