Rob Wittman

I think that is a great example of how we can take that source of income there and, as you said, leverage it in some pretty powerful ways and with partners who not only by themselves promote those efforts, but in conjunction with the…

As an avid water fowl hunter and a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, we all know how important those dollars are.

I hope that you re-examine the cancellation of leases off of Virginia for oil and gas.

I think we need to do more there.

Are we investing enough in our equipment to sustain our position as the greatest Naval Force throughout the 21st Century?

Admiral Mullen spoke of the extensive high operational tempo of both the Navy and Air Force over the past ten years of sustained combat in Iraq & Afghanistan; do you feel that the Air Force has an adequate budget to carry on enduring…

It is absolutely unacceptable to get a 30-year shipbuilding plan or a 30-year aviation plan after the point where this body makes decisions.

We have to make decisions about budgeting and make decisions about strategic needs of this nation.

Chairman Hastings, thank you for holding this important oversight hearing.

I am concerned, though, today about the attempt to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy without listening to our servicemembers first. We are currently fighting two wars and asking our men and women to make tremendous sacrifices. Now…

If our current burn rate is $5 billion a month, if it will go to $10 billion a month by next summer...

The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program be reauthorized, with a heightened focus on new authorities, increased implementation and accountability.

We believe that restoring our Nation's largest estuary is a shared responsibility, not just of State and local governments and the private sector, but of the Federal Government as well.

The role of the Federal Government is critical to the success of the Bay restoration project.

We don't want to put undue burdens on localities.

We want to resist the temptation to replace fishery science with politics.

I would encourage the Committee not to include language that would impose any additional regulations or restrictions on non-native oysters or commercial menhaden harvests.

I really appreciate your leadership and your efforts on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay.

I look forward to continuing to work on those issues.

The Bay is extraordinarily important to myself and to our constituents. It is an economic driver in Virginia.

It is an honor and a privilege to be before you today, and I really appreciate your allowing me to discuss the issues before us about the Chesapeake Bay.

Thank you again, Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Boozman, for the opportunity for me to testify today...

I recognize that we need both carrots and sticks to make complex environmental projects work...

There is a deep sense of frustration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed about the progress we have made to restore the Bay.

I couldn't agree with you more and your statement about seeking energy independence and also making sure we stop the exporting of dollars and jobs that are related to our dependence on foreign sources of energy.