Our Task Force has about 60 members because they are hearing from their residents about PFAS contamination.

The community has organized itself. There is an organization called Need Our Water. They deserve an awful lot of credit for bringing this subject to the attention of policymakers.

One area of policy that you and I have both worked on over our years together in Congress has been supporting the older industrial cities in this country, particularly those affected by globalization, by changes in those communities due to trade impacts, technology, et cetera.

One of the goals of the Biden Administration which you are responsible for executing in this budget is to address the issues of inequality in our economy, in our society, and I believe that the economic issues facing our older industrial cities relate to this inequality of opportunity based on place.

I really appreciate that. We see with trade adjustment assistance a specific set of targeted communities that have been chronically left behind due to the massive changes in our economy related to trade and technology.

I have an initiative in the Ways and Means Committee that creates a new approach to trade adjustment assistance for communities, specifically to provide trade impacted, distressed communities, federal support and technical assistance to help them design and execute an economic redevelopment plan.

I do support your goal of us continuing to lead in this space, literally and figuratively, but to not forget that the agency does have a robust agenda as it relates to life right here on this planet.

The Great Lakes are our lifeblood. It literally outlines our boundaries, it defines who we are as a State.

I really appreciate the focus that this budget puts on infrastructure and building out our middle class and strengthening, particularly strengthening public schools.

It's my pleasure to welcome Paula Nas to testify as a witness today.

Well, first of all, thank you, Chairwoman Stevens, and Ranking Member Waltz for holding this hearing.