Trying to define connectivity is a lot like trying to define navigable. Basically everything is connected.

Is that a little bit bizarre? And I know you have been working on it for three years because we have been trying to block it for three years.

I appreciate you all being here. I thank you for the work that you do.

Increasing storage is going to be, I think, vital in trying to address some of these long-term droughts in the West.

That is just something that we need to know as a Committee, as we are planning our budgets.

How are we going to fund these roads and bridges? We have a $700 billion backlog in water and sewer projects in this country.

I believe there is a growing disconnect between the Committee's direction and the Administration's implementation when it comes to the Corps of Engineers.

And we need to work with the water users there to make sure that they understand what is going on here between the two federal agencies.

So we do not know yet or have any idea yet about what the potential cost is--bigger than a bread box, smaller than a space shuttle, somewhere in there?

Just remember, when you are out making cars more efficient, fuel efficient, with better batteries, all those improvements, you are screwing up our funding source to pay for those roads.

There are always surprises in this business.

That is right. And it still does.

But anyway, thank you all. Thank you for the job you are doing.

Another issue that is kind of cross cutting, I guess, but a key challenge for energy systems of the future is the potential for development of hybrid systems.

How complicated are we making this?

I jokingly, or half-jokingly, told them when I was down at Rocky Flats that we did not really clean up Rocky Flats, we just shipped it to Idaho.

I look forward to working with you as we try to complete this budget process.

One of the questions that has come up is the fact that we have discovered new leaking tanks that are out there.

Last thing I want to touch on with you is that Congress funded the first three energy innovation hubs in fiscal year 2010.

Well, I would encourage you, and I know you are very good at this, so it probably does not need the encouragement, but keep the Committee informed and the staff informed when you get down there and find out what the challenges are that we…

One of the things that this committee is always looking at is not only, when we approve something, what it means in the current fiscal year but what it means in future fiscal years.

If you look at amount of imports in energy over the last decade, the current system we have has placed America at an enormous risk.

And we, in fusion energy, we cut the ITER by $15 million, and domestic fusion energy research by what, $40 million?

I am very concerned about indications that America is losing her competitive advantage in many emerging energy technologies.

Several years ago the Department of Energy transitioned all isotope-production programs to the Office of Science.