Without, I think, healthy dialog within the Congress and the administration, we're not going to be as effective as we should be.

On behalf of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I'd like to convene this hearing on the fiscal year 2014 budget request for the Department of the Interior.

I think one of the benefits of heritage areas is they have broad community support.

There has to be at least a core Federal support level because that is what pulls a lot of the private support.

I think this is strong bipartisan support over the years for the LWCF.

What it doesn't do is allow sort of the not only just oversight, but, you know, members to be able to indicate the local preferences.

When we do these investments, they actually generate economic activity, provide jobs, leverage the economy forward.

If the sequester continues into this 2014 fiscal year, it will be further complicated.

Secretary Salazar was strongly supportive. And I urge you to be as enthusiastic.

if we want the next generation to be custodians of the environment and not just in certain areas, but throughout this country, we have to expose them to environmental education and issues.

You mean they're getting to be our age?

I would like to thank the gentleman from Iowa for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the underlying bill. Before I make my comments, I would just ask my colleague, a good friend of mine from Maryland, we have an opportunity…

today I am introducing the PCAOB Enforcement Transparency Act of 2013 along with my colleague Senator Grassley. This bill will allow the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, PCAOB, to make public disciplinary proceedings it has…

I so appreciate the gentleman yielding time, my good friend from Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I join this conversation tonight coming at it from a perspective of being the chair of the Natural Gas Caucus and cochair of the Manufacturing Caucus…

The American Society of Civil Engineers has given our clean water structure a 'D' grade.

There's a need everywhere for access to nature, conservation, and the services that parks provide.

I would hope that would be the norm and that you would take that message back too.

I think it's a better approach.

I do point out they are public-private partnerships. So this is not something that's just Federal money going in. This generates a lot of economic activity. It's very critical.

Well, you make another excellent point, which is, there's, going forward, a capacity issue, because as you lose these very valuable, very experienced personnel...

Another proposal is the Integrated Resource Restoration Program.

It is gratifying to hear that Rhode Island's wildlife refuges will receive support in this way.

Every $1 we spend for the SRF generates more than $2 in projects on the ground.

Without...healthy dialog within the Congress and the administration, we're not going to be as effective as we should be.

We are optimistic that she will bring this unifying approach to the other Washington.