Well, first of all, I cannot tell you how delighted I am to hear an agency say, we do the best we can with what we have.

Year after year this work has been underfunded. It's absolutely key to reduce the severity of forest fires.

I'm also pleased to see that this year's budget request includes funding for new air tankers.

When Senator Murkowski says the 2 magical words, multiple use, that's what the West wants.

the cleanup from the cold war is a legal and moral imperative.

You've certainly been a pioneer on this, Senator Wyden. We all thank you for that.

You know, you're right on that, Senator Wyden. When we did the road less rule in Idaho we provided in the rule for a RAC type committee.

In this town it's kind of hard to explain this to people, but Senator Wyden knows this and Senator Murkowski knows this.

I have real confidence in the county's being able to spend this money. Indeed I have more confidence in the county's being able to spend this money than I do the Federal Government.

What I think right now is our approach right now is to clean up after the fact instead of mitigating before the disasters occur.

Well that is going to reflect the risk, is it not?

I have been struck by the fact that so many people look to the Federal Government as the insurer of disasters that they did not insure against.