I can't emphasize how grateful we are for the administration to make that request, particularly in tight budget times. That brings that overall request very close to the overall need, which is very commendable. So in this stage of the game, it's up to Congress.

If we don't pull the hazardous materials out of the marsh, they're going to sink in and we're going to be looking at groundwater issues and wildlife issues and adverse impacts to recreation for decades to come.

We're talking about a prized wildlife refuge that's been effectively turned into a toxic dump.

It's as much a disaster for the places set aside to conserve wildlife as for the cities and the people who have been impacted. This is what I would call catastrophic damage to our national wildlife refuges.

Filibusters have proliferated because under current rules just one or two determined senators can stop the Senate from functioning. Today, the mere threat of a filibuster is enough to stop a vote; senators are rarely asked to pull all-nighters like Jimmy Stewart in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.'

When you live in Beijing for a while, you gain a finely tuned understanding of air.