Thomas R. Carper: “I announced a couple of months ago that I am not going to run for re-election next year.”

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.

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.

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.

Given how important this obviously is, my only regret is that we didn't have an opportunity to talk about it 24 hours ago.