Jim Inhofe

First of all, he was talking about the New York Times story. That was the very first thing that I heard, the accusation against Scott Pruitt.

I have to say this. I am going to take the statement that was made by Senator Carper.

I would ask also that Oklahoma enter into their own agreement to clean up the non-tribal land, but they find that the EPA can be a little inflexible when it comes to the remediation that is being handled.

I had to get to the two of you to get a clear understanding, and it is one I don't have any concern as to where you are going to be.

Mr. Chairman, sorry to interrupt here. First of all, you should qualify this by saying he has been accused of the following.

First, let me make sure we get into the Record as accurately as I am saying right now, to Abe Schumer, that his little boy's most predictable adversary wishes him today a happy birthday.

In just a moment, it is my intention to table the Reed amendment. I want to say this. This is the way things should work. We have debated this. We have debated it in committee. I have heard his very logical remarks and positions, and he…

Let me make one comment about this. First of all, I would say to the Senator from Tennessee how much I appreciate the courtesy he has expressed and the way he has dealt with it and talked about his interest. I think he and I actually had a…

The America's Water Infrastructure Act provides project funding authorizations for many critical projects.

If you hear that Congress isn't working on an infrastructure bill, remind them that our water resources and our water treatment system are considered infrastructure, very important infrastructure.

Well, I like your idea better.

We could be doing that here.

The people are the ones who are being punished.

They can stall it for the year, and then they hold the applicant over a barrel.

Over the past year we have talked about the abuses of the Clean Water Act.

We passed a bill, it's called The Pilot's Bill of Rights, in 2012, and we addressed some of these problems.

Under President Trump, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reopened the mid-term evaluation process.

I'm fairly concerned about that and we went ahead and passed a second Pilot's Bill of Rights.

There is one area that I have not heard you talk about. As you know, in Oklahoma we've had a lot of wildfires.

The best decisions on water issues happen at the State and local level

We are the resources. I know it is not any different in Arkansas than it is in Oklahoma.

I just want to remind everyone that not only myself, but also Chairman Barrasso is with Senator Boozman on this legislation.

I applaud the leadership of this Committee for continuing that.

The budget reforms in this bill will provide an ongoing 5-year window of certainty and transparency.

It is one of the few things that really works well in Government, is the way we do the WRDA bills.