I want to join our Chairman, Chairman Boxer, and thank you for holding this hearing.

I am a strong advocate of it.

I have had recent town hall meetings and meetings with small business owners in Maryland, and they are very well attended.

I think we really have to give you many thanks for what you did on surety bonds in the Recovery Act.

There should be a Federal agency that is charged with saying, did small business get its fair share of this economic opportunity?

There is a common theme that small businesses in Maryland and around the nation are in trouble and they are in desperate need of an SBA that is going to be their advocate.

I am a believer that government contracting and government contracting for small business, and as I said, I think it is win-win.

I think the HUBZones are critically important for underserved and vulnerable communities.

Well, I appreciate that. I think that can be very helpful to us.

I think it would be beneficial in a couple of ways.

Your testimony points out the importance of green infrastructure. I would like to explore that a little bit more as to how EPA can be more helpful in promoting green infrastructure.

Today's hearing will focus on the role the Environmental Protection Agency must play in making our Nation more efficient in the way we use our water.

I strongly support the WaterSense program and applaud you for the initiative, and personally believe it would have more legitimacy if it were authorized.

I think both of us understand the importance of the jurisdiction of our Subcommittee in protecting the waters of our Nation for the environment and for safe drinking and supply, and I look forward to working with you.

Well, I visited a green building in Howard County not too long ago, Howard County, Maryland, which is I think a model for a company that is innovative in green technology.

Unlike the Energy Star program, the WaterSense program does not have formal authorization.

I want to acknowledge the support of Senator Boxer for allowing the Subcommittee to move forward with this first hearing on water efficiency.

I think having the information base, and President Obama talked frequently about having decisions made by best science and best information, it would be useful to be able to know the cost benefit ratios on dealing with water efficiency…

First, let me say that today's hearing will focus on the role the Environmental Protection Agency must play in making our Nation more efficient in the way we use our water.

I think same thing is true with water efficiency, that we are losing an economic opportunity here that we need to figure a strategy to deal with.

One of the strategies we have tried to use on energy efficiency and renewables is that it is good economic sense for Americans.

I think most people agree that the Endangered Species Act is one of the most important safeguards that was enacted by Congress in order to preserve diversity in our wildlife, and that decisions should be based upon good science, good…

We need your full attention focused on restoring the integrity of the ESA process.

the guidance would be based upon the best science, and not political considerations

the merit principles, which basically say we should hire people who can do the job because they have the skills to do the job and we evaluate them by how well they do that job and nothing else.