Congratulations on your new role as the head of this Interior and Environment Subcommittee. It is well-deserved.

Today's oversight hearing provides an opportunity to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected arts and humanities organizations across the country and how Federal resources are being used to mitigate the virus' impact.

Mining today is much different than it was in years past and we can do it environmentally, safely, but we have to have access to some of those mineral deposits in this country and on our Federal lands.

I can tell by the decimation of the ash trees in my woods.

The opioid epidemic has been affecting every person in households across the country.

Last Congress, I was proud to cosponsor Congressman Bruce Westerman's bill, the Trillion Trees Act, to plant 1 trillion trees globally by 2050 and promote sustainable forest practices to make our forests more resilient to disease and…

I am so proud of what you have done at Nestle and the bold commitment that you have made to make 100 percent of your packaging recyclable, or reusable by 2025 and to reduce the use of virgin plastics by one-third.

I have been supportive of EPA's Trash-Free Waters program which provides resources to help communities keep trash out of U.S. waterways and prevent microplastics from entering our food supply and drinking water sources.

keeping forests as forests is the number one water quality enhancement that you can do

I ask myself what we could do manually, by man, to do this.

I recognize, though, for our forests to meet the needs of current and future generations, we must commit to finding ways to utilize, manage, and protect our Nation's forests while maintaining a viable market for wood products.

Madam Chair, before we close, I would like to enter a letter into the record from my distinguished colleague, Tim Ryan, about a company in his district and some of the processes that they use to help eliminate waste.

Given education is a proven tool to increasing recycling participation and producing more viable recyclable streams, last Congress I was proud to co-sponsor the Recycle Act.

She taught me a lot of lessons, too, in her time there.

Could additional restoration progress be made by investing in innovative projects, like natural infrastructure project designs, like wetlands, technologies or approaches that yield nutrient and harmful algal bloom reduction benefits at…

As more budgetary details become available, my colleagues and I anticipate working with you to move forward a budget...

As a former prosecutor and cofounder of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I am encouraged by your recent announcement.

to starve them to death on the range is not compassionate, nor is it humane.

That is why Representative Kilmer and I are working hard together to pass our bill, H.R. 654.

I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 84.

I certainly believe that wetlands are nature's kidneys, and we need to continue work on them as best we can.

the Great Lakes are especially vital to both of our districts, and we have fought together to protect them for a long time.

I am deeply concerned that the President's so-called 'pause' on new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters may be the first step of a larger strategy to price domestic fossil energy out of the market.

I am pleased to see that you have continued doing this important work at the Department.

Thank you for allowing me to be here. Madam Chair, so nice to see you.