I urge this Congress to reject the President's vision and to work with our side on the aisle to make real, substantial investments on our water infrastructure.

I want to welcome Secretary James here, his first appearance before the committee.

We strongly supported the recent extension of the 100 percent Federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

the EIS, unfortunately, is due to an overly aggressive Federal judge, who basically adopted the arguments of the plaintiffs and said this is science, when it isn't.

We don't have the money. We don't have the money. Well, we do have the money, we are just stealing it from the American people and dumping it somewhere else.

I didn't like what the previous administration did.

We need some advocacy, we need to fight for this money.

we have a treaty that has, you know, expired.

If we are going to collect the--well, I suppose they are a little more honest. They want to reduce the tax, so then permanently reduce funding for our ports.

Investing in our infrastructure...should reward American manufacturers, American farmers, and American workers, not companies seeking to privatize public services.

So is there a 50-percent increase in efficiency in dredging and maintaining jetties that you can conceive?

But it is time to stop playing this game.

How are we going to do that with half of that money?

We are finally getting some of the recognition that all of us have been arguing for in terms of adequate funding.

So I think it is important we put a document out there, we get a debate started in this country.

If devolution didn't work in the 1950s, how the hell is it going to work in the 21st century?

Well, if you don't increase taxes, we are not having an infrastructure bill and we are doing nothing.

That is one heck of a toll. Four dollars and 67.5 cents per mile. Not too many Americans can afford that.

It is time to stop talking and do something. I mean, this is getting absolutely absurd.

I think that is an opportunity.

That doesn't seem right.

I mean, when you talked about that section of I-69 in your State that cost $1.2 billion, which is delivering benefits for the nationwide system, not just for your State.

It takes Presidential leadership to do the things we need to do.

Even Adam Smith said it; and that is why we put that up there to remind us.