I have serious concerns about the TMDL--both in terms of process and the likely impacts on our farms and communities.

The health of the Chesapeake Bay and those bodies of water contained in the Bay watershed... deserves our full attention.

The increase in regulatory action by EPA makes targeted conservation funding even more essential.

Efforts to improve Bay water quality, however, should not impede on the livelihood of our family farmers.

I am alarmed at the potential economic impact this will have on states and municipalities in the watershed.

We must also be certain that our Federal Government is not carrying out the requirements of this plan in a heavy-handed manner.

EPA keeps saying that the Chesapeake Bay TMDL has been a collaborative process, but the states are telling us that EPA has been very heavy-handed and top-down.

It is important that the United States continues to move toward a secure energy future that will have long-lasting economic benefits.

In times of global economic instability, it is important that the United States continue to move toward a secure energy future that will have long-lasting economic benefits.

This must include safe and responsible domestic oil and natural gas production as part of a broad energy portfolio.

Bottom line, access to funds is vital and so is the delivery of these funds.

It is vital that we protect our natural resources while also supporting our agricultural economy.

I am concerned that recent reductions in conservation program funding is resulting in USDA having to deny producers the tools they need to combat these burdens effectively due to insufficient funding.

To break our nation's dependence on foreign oil, it is important to develop a diverse portfolio of energy alternatives including renewable, home-grown biofuels.

It is important to develop a diverse portfolio of energy alternatives including renewable, homegrown biofuels.

Farmers and ranchers have always been the original stewards of the land and continue to be the best advocates for resource conservation.

Simply put, protecting farmland for future agricultural use is of utmost importance to every citizen of the United States.

The definition of renewable biomass contained in the renewable fuel standard of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is problematic because it could exclude a majority of the country's biomass.

If this climate change bill becomes law, it will have a broad effect on our nation's farms, agribusinesses, and consumers.

If we continue with these provisions that were in H.R. 6, we will shortchange a large part of the country before we even get started.

As a lifelong rancher, a student of agricultural economics, as the Ranking Member of this Committee, I cannot support a bill that will damage an industry that consistently provides America and the world with the safest, most abundant…

What is really troubling to me is I represent the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania...

I am dead on the need to invest in our water and sewer infrastructure.

Our infrastructure has just been completely disinvested and we need to step up those investments.