This is really important for us, and I think it is a lot more relaxed and flexible mechanism to get a lot of good input and ideas from the real world versus a formal hearing.

Thanks very much, Ed. Thanks to all of you for being part of this roundtable.

Does anyone else have any comments to those same topics or questions?

If we were in December right now and current economic conditions were conditions in December, what would your analysis be of extending the TARP or not?

I represent Louisiana, which includes Michoud. I am all for the external fuel tanks. But my concern is once you start putting off the next generation that much, you threaten ever getting there.

OK. Going back to the gap and extending the Shuttle...

You can say it until you are blue in the face. I can say it. Administrator Bolden can say it, but the American people are going to listen only to the President.

the funding profile for the exploration program has been inadequate, and it would be virtually impossible to sustain under the flat line out-year funding profile

Only the President can articulate as we move from here, severely underfunded NASA that is way behind the timeline and doesn't have another rocket ready as a follow-on to the Space Shuttle.

If we are going to have a program, it is going to have to be the President who is going to have to put the juice to the program.

I am doing this calculation mentally, but it would probably be about $18 billion over to close the gap...

The President is going to have to set priorities of how do we not only keep some of them in work and able to get to the vision that I hope the President will articulate.

And so, just to be clear, this concern of mine in terms of this trade-off isn't solved by the extra $3 billion?

The consequence of that today is the gap with which most of us are not particularly happy.

if we intend to have a viable human space exploration program in this country, we are going to need to step up to the plate and provide funds necessary to make it work

I think I understand your reasons for saying that as of now, we shouldn't plan on going to Mars in the way that has been described.

I'm here for a pretty obvious reason, too, just like you are, a natural interest in these phenomenons, representing Louisiana.

What area do you expect to see the most improvement, and the soonest?

I'm going to pass for now, Mr. Chairman.

Cap-and-trade is the opposite of that effort.

The primary objective of any country's energy policy should be to promote abundant supplies of affordable energy and to ensure that it is distributed to consumers.

This is a significant moment in history, as the societies that choose to expand and improve their use of energy will advance beyond those that don't.

I am really eager to hear as much of the testimony as possible, and ask a few questions.

If the D.C. Court's decision keeps EPA from extending the Acid Rain Program, could all the banked allowances from the Acid Rain Program be worth relatively little, giving little incentive for utilities to hold on to them? And would this…

Have you also proactively invited stakeholders in to discussions you have hosted?