I take this time to talk about a fair shot for American families on quality, affordable higher education. It is very appropriate that the Senator from New Jersey is presiding because he has been one of the great leaders in the Senate on…

As the Senator from Maryland, I take great interest in NRC since it is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.

I strongly support its mission.

I support all three of these nominations, but I want to talk a moment about Dr. Henry Aaron. I have had a chance to work over my legislative career with Dr. Aaron. I do not know of a person who is more qualified to serve on this board. He…

He has devoted his life to these issues.

Obviously, there are two ways to deal with this. One is to try to deal with the causes of climate change... The other is dealing with adaptation.

I think it's about time that the farmers are given the opportunity to take a look at, and have more input into, what these different policies are.

We need to include them more.

the Susquehanna is critically important. And New York's also a critical State for us on our freshwater supply.

I suppose the restoration of 185,000 acres of submerged vegetation will be well-received among those who make their living off of the crab crop.

I know the--a little bit of the politics of oyster restoration, and it's pretty--can be pretty complicated.

We've seen some positive signs in the last several years.

Mr. Robertson, what type of assurance can you give on making decisions in a timely way for those that make their livelihood off of the harvest of the Bay?

You know all politics is local. You need to work with your colleagues to get something passed.

I think there is an understanding that what we take out of the Bay affects the health of the Bay.

I think it is absolutely wrong that there is no waters on the East Coast, other than the Everglades, that have been designated under that program.

Many of you mentioned additional Federal resources, which is something that is dear to all of our hearts on dealing with the Chesapeake Bay.

we've got to get children much more sensitive.

There has been Federal interest in helping fund on oyster restoration.

That's helpful. And I understand the aspect of adopting what's in the TMDLs.

I think you've answered my question. I think you have.

Well, you know, and I applaud you for being very specific as to the goals in many different areas.

There's a lot of local governments, and they don't have the same degree of flexibility that a State may have.

I really do believe that the Chesapeake Bay strategies was bottom up. It came from the locals up to the Federal...

Virginia was a pioneer in looking at an Asian oyster, as to whether that could work.