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.

I think it has worked extremely well.

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

They are that far away.

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

You were visionary in being able to do it.

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…

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.

Congress has to. So I plan to work with the subcommittee, Chairman Stevens, Ranking Member Byrd, and Chairman Domenici to ensure that this subcommittee gets the resources needed to fund these vital organizations properly.

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

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

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