Tom Udall

I hear it all the time from my constituents. There are a lot of small businesses that are poised to go to work.

I even saw an almost science fiction-like technology the Japanese use where they actually capture the little bit of energy that results from water flowing through the toilet itself.

The cheapest ton of coal, the cheapest barrel of oil, the cheapest megawatt, is the one you don't use.

The gap between science and applied research needed to bring energy efficiency technology to the marketplace at speed and scale is really the focus of the work there.

I was just in a skyscraper in New York City last week... It was a net energy reduction. It was also a net cost reduction for this skyscraper.

Senators Tom Udall of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island met with the delegation

Almost all of our streams are polluted with a level of mercury that you cannot eat the fish.

I want to try to focus on the impact on the West.

Reducing pollution there is a very good thing, and I look forward to learning more about how EPA plans to proceed.

One of the things that I think that we are talking about here is how to save lives and create jobs by promoting pollution reduction investments.

But, sir, this is your document. This is a Toyota document, and it used the terms that you 'saved' that amount of money.

NHTSA did not permit Toyota to influence its decisions.

I look forward to seeing that because this chart is pretty doggone revealing, in terms of the spikes and then how long it took to get actual action.

This hearing's about helping ensure the safety of American drivers. It's about uncovering why hundreds of instances of sudden acceleration occurred for so long.

The Federal regulating agency, NHTSA, is also to blame.

Toyota continued to put company profits above the safety of the American people.

But, the reality is, too many Toyota vehicles driven over the past 10 years haven't been safe.

Once again, Chairman Rockefeller, you are focusing this committee on consumer protection, and I thank you for that. It's absolutely critical.

NHTSA's defects and compliance investigations have led to more than 500 recalls involving the recall of 23.5 million vehicles.

I was unclear from your testimony whether you all actually consider it a cut or it is a flat budget from over last year.

There was a Bureau of Indian Affairs Inspector General report just several years ago that covered some of these conditions.

I think one of the ways to meet the backlog, and I know that you are going to argue for this within the Administration, is to come up with a multi-year plan.

I think there is something positive there that we can build on.

I think it is doable, even in the economic climate we are in with the Obama Administration.

I want to thank you for holding this hearing, and I would also like to associate myself with your remarks.