I hope we will take advantage of this to focus on where we can create jobs, create the type of infrastructure, but also create the livable communities that are so important to Americans.

We need a blueprint for improving and investing in our Nation's transportation system.

It is the right model, using good science and partnership to try to attack the problem.

You have focused it on the important priorities of our Nation.

You shouldn't be penalized because you did the right thing.

I think back about the Chesapeake Bay and that its signature was that we had all levels of government.

Well, one of the things I am going to ask that we work collectively on, and that is between our Committee and the Agency, to have expectations of what we expect in these programs starting at the first levels for Federal participation.

I interpret that to mean that if you don't have all of the watershed jurisdictions included in the program, then you really don't have a comprehensive plan.

I think we need to be more courageous than we have been historically and be more open to changing course when things aren't working.

New York strongly supports the legislation authored by Senator Gillibrand to fold the Stewardship Act into the Restoration Act.

I rise today on the occasion of Black History Month to recognize the accomplishments of three leading Marylanders in American medicine. Established by Howard University historian Carter G. Woodson in 1927 as Black History Week, this now…

We are constrained. We have a huge budget deficit in New York, $8.5 billion projected for next year.

Senator Gillibrand was here earlier... wanted very much to extend her greetings to you.

Well, we will change the name to the Great Oceans.

You have to have a plan where, as you said all the lands are, whoever said, the last panel, said all the lands are included.

Thank you, Subcommittee Chairman Cardin, for holding this hearing.

I strongly urge the Senate to consider increasing the current Federal 50-50 match for Long Island Sound projects to a 75-25 match.

Clearly, being able to adjust, based upon the realities, need to be there.

I think we need to start looking at different levels and where, when you request Federal participation, whether it is the concentration of a Federal agency that will be responsible for that body of water, or whether it is Federal funding…

Well, Senator Cantwell, thank you for your testimony. There are many similarities between Puget Sound and the Chesapeake.

I thought Senator Ensign's point about Lake Tahoe was a very telling point as the forestry has changed.

The programs that have been submitted dealing with nutrient reduction require a certain level from the agricultural practices.

Well, one of the things we learned from the Chesapeake Bay Program is that we had 5-year plans, and we would wake up after the fifth year and say, gee, we didn't do what we said we were going to do.

And I think having your own office and bringing together the stakeholders so that you have a comprehensive plan using the best science information that is available, you can make a huge difference.

I think having those measurable goals and then publicly announce those goals and measure our progress against that I think is critically important.