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…

Folks in America's First District have a lot to say about spending, the debt, and the deficit, and I'd like to share their comments. Chris from Warrenton says, Please cut Federal spending. This issue can't be put off any longer. It's not…

I'm hearing loud and clear from people of America's First District in Virginia that this health care bill before us will not reduce costs, will not increase access, and is full of sweetheart, backroom deals that they find highly…

Recently during my district work period, I met with officials from Matthews County Public Schools. Matthews County is representative of many of the communities in my district and around the Commonwealth that are dealing with difficult…

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

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

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.

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

I look forward to continuing to work on those issues.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

I think we are all on the same page as having an all-of-the-above energy policy here for the United States.

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.

It has got to be something that we do in a timely fashion to make sure we are developing those sources to transition to that next generation of energy.

I think this is a great way for us to accomplish that.

So, I think the funding and the efforts there become even more critical for us to make sure those opportunities are available.

I am interested in your comment earlier when you talked about securing full funding and dedicated sources of funding for our Land and Water Conservation Fund.

This is, I think, a very, very important effort as we go forth with trying to make sure we know what the PME system needs to provide and the JPME system needs to provide to our men and women in uniform.