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.

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

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

Let me make it clear, we need an energy policy in this Country that will provide for energy security and deal with the greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change.

We could do a lot better. We made some progress, by the way, in the last Congress, and I want to see us continue to make progress to help vulnerable small businesses.

I would suggest that part of this is making a commitment to get the science answers to these questions.

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

I hope that you will look at this position as being an advocate and providing independent information.

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.

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.

Well, I agree.

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.