We have approved the nomination of Mr. Wehrum to be the Assistant Administrator of the EPA, which will be reported to the full Senate for approval.

Now that the markup is completed, I call this hearing to order.

The discussion draft we consider today focuses specifically on issues that have been referred to this Committee.

The three titles include bipartisan initiatives from six different members and represent many months--if not years--of work.

Do you believe that the existing NEPA structure is sufficiently effective and flexible in terms of promoting effective forest management?

last week, the Trump administration took a very important step, the step to end the war on coal and the war on American energy. The Environmental Protection Agency has said that it has begun the formal process to roll back the Obama…

I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the Gingrich nomination, the motion to consider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the Trachtenberg nomination. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the nomination. The legislative…

Congratulations again on your nomination.

it is always such a privilege to come to the floor and hear Senator Isakson, of Georgia, speak, as he speaks so eloquently. He comes here and makes perfect points. He was talking about the tax system looking to the future. What we have is…

Many States believe the highway formula funding is important because it enables them to plan effectively and properly put funds to work.

I have raised concerns in this Committee with Secretary Chao regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation's regulations that I believe unnecessarily subject rural State departments of transportation to the same rules as urban State…

If confirmed, will you commit to working with me and members of this committee to ensure that regulations, as they impact rural States, are common sense and take into account the legitimate concerns we see in rural States?

With all due respect, it just seems that agencies do rely on guesswork about appropriations in an effort to comply with the law.

I find the position that the nominee today has taken deeply troubling and outside the mainstream.

New leadership at EPA has an opportunity to correct this coercive federalism and instead restore cooperative federalism, as intended.

last week the Senate passed the bipartisan Defense Authorization Act. The world is a very dangerous place. This legislation is very important to keeping our country safe. Another thing we need to do to keep America safe is to get the…

We must allow expanded use of 21st century techniques by land management professionals.

leads to conditions that are quite unhealthy and even dangerous.

Thank you very much, Senator Daines. We appreciate you bringing forth this bipartisan piece of legislation and are very grateful for your leadership.

These hot, fast-moving fires are unpredictable and cause significant damage to the ecosystem and surrounding communities.

As a Wyoming official and a resident, can you describe what impacts these fires are having on the physical health of the people of the West?

We need to find solutions to address this threat to our communities and to wildlife.

We must take immediate steps to improve the health of our Nation's forestland by being much more aggressive and proactive when it comes to forest management.

Decades of fire suppression and a rapid decline in active management have led to overly dense forests susceptible to disease and to pest outbreaks.