Jim Inhofe

Thank you, Madam Chairman, for holding this hearing, and thank you to all the witnesses for agreeing to discuss these important issues with us today.

The adage that we never want to send our soldiers into a fair fight is at the core of the Army modernization strategy.

The American people will not trust us to protect their health and their environment if they do not trust the transparency

I hope that you will commit to me today that the Agency will rework its analysis and complete it by June 26.

Again, measured against this standard, I'm afraid EPA has missed the mark.

Instead of backroom dealings, EPA should be encouraging public participation at every step in the rulemaking process.

Now that doesn't look like transparency and openness; it's more like hide and seek.

I want to commend Administrator Jackson for making scientific integrity and transparency essential components of EPA's mission.

I absolutely agree. IRIS is supposed to be a collection and synthesis of the available science on a given chemical at a given time.

My personal feeling is there shouldn't be a difference. Science should be science and it should be blind to industry and environment.

I have always believed that one of the primary responsibilities of this committee is to ensure that regulatory decisions are based on the best available science.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I think it was a big mistake. I am very sorry that the Stimulus Bill, which I think got off track, only put 4 percent into transportation and did not even deal with the rescission.

Clearly this would have a detrimental effect on the economy and will negate any gains made by the stimulus--which as I've said before, dramatically underinvested in infrastructure.

The challenges in continuing to provide a safe and free flowing transportation network have never been greater.

One of the things that I would ask you, and I ask everyone that is nominated, would you commit to responding to the minority side the same as you would respond to any request that comes from the majority side during your tenure after you…

This Administration hosted a conference call about the status of the Highway Trust Fund, sharing new technical information about the inability of the Trust Fund to make required reimbursements to States. The White House set up this…

I agree with Senator Kyl, we are fortunate that the President has chosen to nominate Victor Mendez to this position.

In light of the obligation under international law for all ships to aid mariners in distress, we would expect other navies to assist U.S. flagged ships and we have seen that occur, most recently with the Maersk Virginia incident when the…

I just want to make sure I am on record as saying that we are very anxious... to get this thing reauthorized.

We want all of the above.

I am concerned that the lapse in authorization may leave the agency vulnerable to funding cuts during the appropriations cycle.

This is a program where liberals and conservatives get together and say, this is what Government should be doing.

There are not the votes right now for cap-and-trade in the U.S. Senate. It is not even close.

I have no doubt in my mind, Madam Chairman, that the House is going to pass the bill, and it will come over here and it will not pass here.