the European Union with this emissions trading scheme is acting outside of their prerogative and the trading scheme will have a negative effect on our aviation community.

I think it is essential that we be very firm.

I think that the EU needs to step back and I'm hoping, Mr. Secretary, that you're going to... assure that the U.S. aviation community is not penalized by the EU.

It violates U.S. sovereignty, because a U.S. carrier has to pay the European tax for all segments of a flight from the U.S. to Europe.

I think this is not a political, but rather an American essential, that we stand up for our airlines against an attack on our sovereignty.

I think it's very bipartisan, and the things that have been mentioned by Senator Rockefeller and Senator Cantwell, I think are legitimate concerns.

I just hope very much that you will see your way to being a little more forthcoming on something that's pretty clear to all of us that we need to do for America.

As part of this year's budget, the Army has submitted a request for approval to enter into a second multiyear procurement contract for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

Multiyear contracts (MYCs) provide cost savings because they stabilize contractors and subcontractors over a longer period of time.

I think it has been proven that the licenses that have the fewest strings attached or the ones that are burdened with the least number of restrictions will auction for the most revenue.

I support broadband adoption and digital literacy efforts. It's vital that we make sure that broadband is both widely deployed and adopted in rural and urban communities on a nationwide basis.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I want to ask a parochial question, and it's about the State of Texas wireless broadband network for emergency responders.