Patty Murray

If a soldier is afraid to reach out, if they feel that their professional military career will be hurt, we're trying to do everything we can to destigmatize that

We want to make sure that everything is appropriate.

It's really disconcerting, after 10 years, to find now that that has not been the case.

No one, no one should be denying any servicemember care purely because of a question of cost.

It is making sure that those men and women get the care that they receive.

We want to make sure that where this was inappropriate, it was an isolated case.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), in my home State of Washington, is facing some very real questions on the way they have diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the invisible wounds of war.

I am working with the Department of Defense, major airlines, and a lot of people to expand the availability and market for biodiesel and other biofuels.

Your budget request includes over $1 billion for NextGen, the effort to modernize our air traffic control system.

Gas prices are hurting everyone. And as you and I have talked about before, we need to look at all the alternatives to fossil fuels.

I really appreciate your focus on that.

And you know that the Federal partnership that supports our ferry system is very important.

We really appreciate all your work in this, your passion, your energy, and we will continue to work with you throughout this year to put the best bill we can together.

Okay. We have got to make sure airports can make capital investments, and airport grants and PFCs both play a really important role in that.

I would also encourage you to work with the Department of Labor and let them know what you are doing.

So I wanted to ask you when you expect to publish the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), and if you still intend to assess driver fitness, and what the plan and timetable is for that.

I would really appreciate that, and certainly let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

I wanted to ask you about one of my highest priorities, which is to help veterans transition from their life in the military into civilian employment.

I appreciate that very much.

That is long overdue and much needed.

Their overall grade for our Nation's infrastructure is a 'D,' and their grade for roads is even more depressing--a 'D-' (minus).

The need to invest in our transportation infrastructure is huge.

I am concerned about suggestions that FERC-mandated regulations are the best way to resolve renewable integration issues.

Well, we need to be consulted as that moves forward. It is extremely important.

So as you draft a responsible spending profile as you again re-baseline the WTPs, I really caution you to be mindful of that.