I am all for streamlining the process so that things and decision-making, that does not have to happen consecutively can happen on a parallel course.

Climate change is threatening Hawaii's future freshwater security through sea level rise because we have the water table, increasing temperatures, increased strata, et cetera.

How important is it for the Department to consider public input and project alternatives when dealing with such a sensitive and important resource as water?

I think this would be really terrific for a state like Hawaii then, because it is seven inhabited islands, each with their own water systems and within their locality.

I can certainly understand Alaska's interest in being eligible for these grants as we in Hawaii have been interested in expanding eligibility to entities in our state as well.

I think we are going in the wrong direction. So I want to ask you, why are we doing that? Why?

This budget goes in totally the wrong direction by cutting 66 percent for renewable energy and energy efficiency and 60 percent for electric grid modernization.

I introduced the Next Generation Electric Systems Act last Congress was to support public-private partnerships.

I would like to see that kind of data and information presented to this Committee in the future.

It is the largest investment in these three areas ever made, but it isn't an investment unless the money actually materializes.

Excuse me, I have to correct you, Mr. Secretary, because the paper's abstract did have that sentence which you excluded from your press release.