Thomas R. Carper: “Senators are going to be asked to submit questions for the record, and they can, and we hope they will.”

We are better off when we hear community concerns at the beginning of the process rather than at the end.

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.

For too long, the seats have not been filled, and not been filled properly.

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.