David Vitter

It is clear that the EPA is broken.

That the Obama EPA can get away with this kind of distortion proves the Agency, in my opinion, is out of control.

The Obama EPA has embraced the strategies of this playbook and pursued ideologically driven agendas in much the same way as Beale did in the 1990s.

EPA's continued use of the playbook has led to dire consequences for Americans.

This is a very important oversight hearing about EPA's budget and overall what is going on at EPA, its management practices, how it is being run.

He was allowed to retire, right?

Were you concerned to act until the White House looked into it and made sure there would not be any political fallout?

These examples of waste and abuse make congressional oversight absolutely critical.

We in the Senate are charged with stewarding this Nation, which includes watching out for those who are most vulnerable.

But you knew the bonus was illegal and it went on for 2 years.

Yes, it is absolutely critical for Louisiana veterans as well that both of the clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles are authorized and finally built. To clarify, both of the Louisiana clinics are not new projects. They would actually be…

In your opinion, should inherently safer technologies take into account factors such as risk shifting, unintended consequences, feasibility, and economic impacts?

I think we have a historic opportunity to come together in this committee on a bipartisan basis.

Are you aware of the budget growth EPA has had in the last 5 years or so?

It is a historic opportunity. It hasn't happened on this committee on any major environmental issue in decades.

I would suggest recent events with Russia, for instance, suggest that changes around the world may be more the norm than the exception.

Don't you think we're sacrificing something there?

I am glad they do, but that's not answering my question.

We're falling well short, already.

The 5-year budget proposal submitted by NNSA is, 'fragile, and any funding reductions at this point could pose unacceptable risk to the health of the nuclear enterprise.'

Funding for NNSA weapons activities has come at the expense of nonproliferation programs.

They do this through constant surveillance of the stockpile and by implementing life extension programs (LEP) for warheads and bombs that are well past their design life.

The NNSA and the National Labs are responsible for maintaining the effectiveness of our nuclear stockpile.

It means a real impact and delay in five areas.

I do question that. If we have nuclear weapons in the triad, for important strategic reasons, I think we should have them in the most effective, including cost-effective, way possible.