In Ohio, we have an aggressive problem with the emerald ash borer.

I was wondering what, if anything, you plan to do with the flat budget to help local communities fight the emerald ash borer scourge.

You hit on a good point with the sugar maples because that is a big industry in our area.

Our colleague, Congressman David Joyce, introduced H.R. 223 to amend the Great Lakes program provisions under section 118 of the Clean Water Act to formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for 5 years.

It is supremely disappointing to me that the President's egregious circumvention of Congress has shifted the conversation away from where it ought to be.

Isn't that actually improper political influence? It sure looks like it.

You simply cannot expect the Congress to stand idly by when the President circumvents this entire branch of government.

the President's unilateral action demonstrates intentional disregard for the legislative authority of the Congress under the Constitution

The GLRI has provided approximately $1.96 billion toward restoration efforts since its initial year of funding in FY 2010.

I have been a beneficiary of it because my primary care physician has come from that program.

I come here after serving 25 years as a prosecutor, and unfortunately, this is the three-year anniversary of a school shooting in which three kids were killed and many more kids wounded, so it is something near and dear to me.

Last year he proposed funding it at $275 million, and this year he proposed funding it at $250 million.

Given that the EPA is the lead Federal agency implementing and administering the GLRI, how is this proposed $50 million decrease expected to impact the EPA's efforts to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity…

I think the Great Lakes should be the number one priority. I do not think of it as a lake or a series of lakes. I think of it as a national treasure that we need to take care of.

the GLRI is a tremendous bipartisan initiative.

First, please maintain support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Legislation like Representative David Joyce's will create greater certainty for the program and allow everyone to focus on getting the job done.

It is all about community and economic development.

The recent events in the Ukraine... have highlighted in stark relief the importance of reliable energy to our world's ability to defend the borders of sovereign nations.

I appreciate your support of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which I also support, but I would appreciate even more, the Department of Energy setting clearer targets.

Our own energy crisis is not just about insecure oil supplies from the middle east, but about the cost it inflicts on hardworking Americans.

We need to get focused on one plan because we cannot continue on the path of not doing anything.

I think it is very important.

I am glad you brought that up because part of that as my second question.

I have long stated that our reliance on foreign energy, is a grave economic and national security concern for our country.