Thomas R. Carper: “If you owe it, pay it. But let us get more strategic about the way we go about dealing with the--if we want to solve the…”

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.

Public engagement can build trust, it can increase public buy-in, can help resolve issues, can help prevent litigation, and ultimately it can save time and money.

Not really. I have just come from the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which is having a hearing on the Key Bridge, the bridge in Baltimore that was badly damaged.

People ask me what I am proudest of in my life, and I always say, raising three boys, with a big assist from their mom.