Thomas R. Carper: “While the Department has made major strides and major progress toward improving management functions, we need to…”

Last year, the Environment and Public Works Committee held, I think, not one, but a couple of hearings on permitting, common theme at our hearings, on the importance of public engagement.

I would say there is a lesson here for both of us, and one of those is to make clear I am always ready to take your calls, your meeting, whatever you want and engage.

You and our colleagues have heard me invoke in this room more times than I can count the Golden Rule: Treat other people the way I want to be treated.

Thank you for your passion, and I would ask that we spend the rest of this day dealing with this.