Harry Reid

Senator Reid and I, with great help from Senator Stevens, last week led the fight here in the Senate to add significant sums to the fiscal year 2003 supplemental to cover projected heightened security costs that the Department did not…

But you cannot do that with no money, can you?

And I am saying that you are saying the right thing, but your actions are not.

My only point is, and I have been saying this for sometime, and others, it is not just me, that we would be better off if we had the transportation studies done before you do the license application.

But you do not necessarily agree that was a good decision, do you?

Yes, I think it would be a good idea, don't you?

But you see, that is the problem that a number of people had, and that is, how can you have a license application if you have not done anything about transportation, because they should be one and the same.

When do you expect to release a transportation strategic plan?

And do you expect to involve stakeholders in the development of this transportation plan?

Tell me why you would not involve stakeholders.

So that would be about a year-and-a-half or something like that?

The only obstacle to your progress and ability to meet the license application deadline of 2004 is a lack of funds?

I do not want to be rude. You are reading an answer that there is no question to it.

They are that far away.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Do you have people that are keeping track of the litigation that is ongoing with Yucca Mountain?

If I could just say this, I want to tell you how much I appreciate you holding a meeting on Monday.

I think that would be the right thing to do.

Chairman Domenici has never tolerated the Department treating his State or any other State or any locality shabbily.

I am not going to defend any counties that are spending Federal dollars inappropriately if that, in fact, is the case.

We need to turn to the higher dollar totals you are getting now and for the next few years into verifiable progress in getting clean-ups done more quickly and at lower cost.

I am very pleased that someone, somehow, has worked through the Office of Management and Budget, and the Executive Branch has finally recognized that this is a truly long-term initiative of great significance.

Senator Reid and I have worked hard in our position of chairman and ranking member and vice versa in this effort the last few years.

I plan to work aggressively with Ranking Member Byrd, Chairman Stevens and Chairman Domenici to ensure that this Subcommittee gets the resources needed to fund these two vital organizations properly.

The administration's proposals are inadequate to fund ongoing projects at anything other than minimal levels.