Kay Bailey Hutchison

I believe this Committee should hold a hearing to examine implementation of that law.

I think that is a very good point, and I hope you do pursue that with the Secretary.

I think it is very important that we move expeditiously on all the nominees, but especially for the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Thank you very much. You did a very nice job.

I understand that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is responsible for balanced and objective programming, and I will make every effort to make sure that radio and television continue to do that.

I hope that means you have taken NASA off your list of imperiled agencies.

I think it is great too, and particularly I think their children's programming on television is the best in the business.

I think it was the right decision that Secretary LaHood made.

I think your point is well taken, that really radio does do that, but are you saying you think there could be more investment in in-depth programming than is being done today?

I know how important the role of safety for our country is in the NTSB.

This business about public service is to me emotional, particularly when you have to give up what you have to give up to come do it.

There is a growing interest in our country in high-speed rail.

I think that it is very important that this be a balanced consensus measure to address shippers and the rail industry concerns because both are very important to our economy.

We are all thrilled that the President recognizes Chris's great talents and professionalism and has reached across the aisle to nominate him for this important position at the Department.

Storms like Ike and Katrina exposed how vulnerable the U.S. remains to natural disasters.

I appreciate the opportunity.

People can't visualize that they're going to come back and see sticks in the ground, and not a broken air conditioner, not a broken sink, not a thing.

Is there anything more that would be able to, between NOAA and the technology that you have, that would get any better or more helpful information to the people on the ground who are trying to prepare?

Well, one of the things about Hurricane Ike was the flooding, not just heavy flooding, it's not a tsunami, but it is that forceful flooding.

Hurricanes account for billions of dollars of economic loss--an average of more than $35 billion annually in the last 5 years alone.

It was the best I have ever seen.

The bill that I'm putting forward, would study the present and the past weather modification activities to see if there is any future in weather modification.

We really have to know what the system is comprised of.

I've never seen anything like it in my life.

It's not only to see what might have an effect, but what are the unintended consequences.