Patty Murray

I was really happy to see your announcement in January that the Department is now going to consider other important factors in addition to cost effectiveness when it is evaluating new transit projects.

In last year's funding we provided to HUD for the Sustainable Communities Initiative, the administration has worked to clarify the roles that each agency is going to play in this partnership.

We know that many people want to retire in the communities where they have raised their children.

The idea of a sustainable or livable community sometimes doesn't resonate in some of our smaller or rural communities.

Elected officials sit on the boards of MPOs, but they are still different organizations than the State or local governments.

I am glad to see you as well. Sorry for the pause and I appreciate both of you waiting for us.

Last year, the administration launched the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

Well, following on that, what changes would you expect to see from a community after it has developed this integrated plan?

Cities across the country like Bellevue in my home State have already developed projects like the Bel-Red Road

The tradeoffs impact quality of life and future opportunities.

We are hoping with the President coming later this month that we can have a resolution of this and move on.

If you could share that with the subcommittee, it would be great.

So you will set that out up front, this is what we expect to see?

Oftentimes, those things work better for large communities with really complex transportation challenges.

Importantly, they recognize that the health of their communities depends on taking a comprehensive approach to those challenges.

This hearing provides us a very important opportunity for us to hear how these Departments are working together.

Are we doing anything in the interim to address the concerns about the screening tool that is currently being used? Or are we just waiting for a study?

I admire the continuing commitment and the bi-partisan effort to make the necessary changes that will provide the best possible services for our veterans.

I am very concerned that the VA is underestimating the number of patients who are going to seek VA health care.

It is unacceptable for veterans with TBI, whether it is blatant or unreported, to go undiagnosed.

Clearly, we all know that we have to get this approach to treating patients with TBI right.

I appreciate that. I assume the treatment is different depending on whether you have TBI or PTSD or both.

In fiscal year 2010, Amtrak committed to spending $144 million on station improvements to bring the rail system into compliance with the ADA.

I'm glad the administration is not submitting budget requests that would guarantee the bankruptcy of Amtrak anymore.

Chairwoman, there is a new understanding across the world today, I think, that we are in a very different competitive environment for--not only the economy, but for energy for the future.