Thank you, Chairman. Director and Chief, thank you for your testimony today and your leadership.

I would just publicly thank you for as a part of that planning rule establishing that advisory committee, which gives that local voice.

Frankly, in my opinion, prejudging the facts will be ignored.

Well, and I appreciate that. But when--you know, and I like being a team player, that has been important to me throughout my whole life, professionally and personally. But when I am coming together with a team, unless I am working with a group of carpenters, I don't bring a hammer. And that is what the Obama Administration has brought to this 'teamwork,' to the States.

OSM has no plans to propose a rule requiring states to increase permit fees.

Mr. Chairman, if I had any time remaining, I would yield it to the Members of the Minority Party to weigh in on this important topic that we have been addressing here, but I have neither time nor Democratic colleagues present.

Unfortunately, that announcement last week... struck home for me, in my congressional district.

At the core of this issue is a misallocation of funds because of two separate weighting systems.

The All Children Are Equal (ACE) Act (HR 2485) was introduced by Congressman Glenn Thompson and garnered broad, bipartisan support from 17 House colleagues.

Our job is far from complete. I commend this committee's ongoing efforts to reauthorize ESEA and look forward to the continued leadership committed to the current improvement in and support of our nation's public schools.

Mr. Thompson. Absolutely. The United States taxpayers and the citizens here. I appreciate that.