Peter DeFazio

I just want to follow up on something you said. You're saying the first in class, you know, might meet specs but often what comes after that is not so great.

We need to look at the world around us, which is not exactly breaking out in tranquility.

I want to talk about Making it in America, which means that these icebreakers, as--my goal is everything on that icebreaker is American-made.

OK. I hadn't seen that notice, or that change in the notice. So that is welcome news.

We have unique, sovereign interests that other nations are encroaching upon.

OK, excellent. OK. Well, thank you.

I would just like the record to reflect that.

I understand the pressures you are--the Service has been under, and I am--always endeavor to support additional funding.

I would certainly endorse remarks of my colleague, the ranking member, Mr. Garamendi.

I really want to see that the taxes, which are collected from the American consumer, small tax on the value of imported goods, is spent on the intended purpose

So I guess my question would be, if we had full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Funds, both on an annual basis, the income, and the theoretical balance in the Treasury of $9 billion, would it be fair to say that that money could be…

All right. Yeah. I was given a number of, I think, $30 billion to $35 billion, but I would like confirmation on that.

OK. Thank you. We would like some detail to see what we are forgoing.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

These efforts weaken protection of our Nation's rivers, streams, and lakes, place at risk the drinking water supply of over 117 million Americans.

I cannot comprehend how putting these regulations back into effect will remove uncertainty.

I have real concerns about it going on in the current atmosphere.

I hope that you will use this, because, you know, detention time and the port drayage are two areas where we are forcing people to drive beyond their authorized hours.

I am very disturbed by a recent series of articles in USA TODAY.

FMCSA should develop rules that would prevent employers from forcing drivers to drive beyond their authorized hours.

The lack of investment is part of the problem.

We seem to be going the wrong way when it comes to surface transportation.

It is important to hear--in this case, I am pleased we are hearing, actually--from a career staff as opposed to political hacks.

We should be challenging industry, Department of Transportation, stakeholders, all to be more creative and work toward the common goal to utilize their own resources and imagination to create a more safe road for all.

I was very hopeful, given the negotiated rulemaking. But this rule failed to include a minimum number of hours behind-the-wheel training.