Power plant admissions. So, administrative reagan, can you reit gait how it could impede the rule making process with respect to pollution control measures that directly affect climate change. I can assure you a Government Shutdown would be detrimental to any work done on regulations that would help us stay globally competitive and take advantage of technology or regulations to protect vulnerable communities and children from horrible 2. 5 polluting as well. We are doing critical work to stay ahead of wildfires we are seeing across the country and we have to be in a position where staff is doing the research so we can alert immunities of the impacts. We are also trying to respond to the drought situation from impact as well so reduce the ability to respond to the Climate Impact and slow the ability to regulate emerging contaminants and prevent us fron protecting Public Health. I would say those inspectors on the job to ensure Water Infrastructure, safe Drinking Water, those will be allocated to their homes if we have a shutdown. To switch gears a bit, hr 4296 weatherization resilience and Adaptation Program which would help low income Affordable Housing about his protector homes from disastrous effects of climatee change as part of the Program Including pa devereaux in setting standards and guidance for communitiesan on hw to make homes and property more resilient and adopted to a changing world. He mentioned research helping areas improve resilience to floods and wildfires. He mentioned the hc setting naturalen solutions to resiliene such as the grass to store carbon. Could you share the research in this regard and talk about how you are ordaining on this research with other agencies to the extent that you are. We are looking at a whole of government approach. I would argue whether it seagrass or plethora of crops and am constantlyth talking abot wetlands that helpp us filter pollution. We are looking at an all of the above reproach to sequester carbon and filter through natural opportunities. I would like to say as we look at natural solutions, we believe we can do a lot through voluntary marketbased incentive programs that dontth have heavy Regulatory Framework associated so its an all hands on deck, who want to be pragmatic, on that front like ready for the race and i think we are doing a good job working across the board define every tool we have. The chair recognizes myself for five minutes. Administer greg, i want to let you know we have several committees going on but ive been following you and watching and listening to your answers. You doll give the answers as people talk to you and i appreciate that. A lot of times we see people back and forth just to try to figure out the answer, the canned answer but i i want to go into different areas because the epa is purchasing millions worth of advanced combat. Ive heard about this on a slightly different question. A lot of us includes night vision so why does the epa need military equipment . Camaro give the same answer i said before, i need to look into this particular issue and the reasoning behind enforcement arms making this integrated i would love to get back to you on that. You are not going to war against anyone . [laughter] theres no one to go into work against. I believe related constituencies are partners and we are trying to do these things together. How are americans supposed to feel about an agency . A lot ofan us feel our rights ae trampled on especially when you stock up on weapons so i love to have a detailed answer is that especially if there isnt a war on the horizon for the epa. Absolutely. Another area i want to go into, my background is tracking. Ive been in the private sector 30 years and this is my first term in congress so spent my entire life in the Trucking Industry building the Trucking Industry with my wife. He proposed a new goal that will impose more burden on the commercial industry so do you have your way, new standards willrd make new trucks even more expensive. Prices have gone up astronomically over the past decade and a lot of times what you do as an adverse affect because the new emission rules other are shutting down trucks left and right. Im sure youve seen them but a lot of times we cant even get sensor to replace and its making trucks even more expensive it is hurting trucking overall. Reviewed of the companys oscar, 95 are three trucks or less. Do you understand the hardship economicic hardship regulations put on truckers especially with Small Businesses . I appreciate the Trucking Industry and commerce and keeping our economy going. We have proposed a rule, ive met with the Trucking Industry should and we have received thousands of comments. We are trying to think through whether or not the proposed rule addresses the technologiesly available in the information in terms of costs associated and time frames. What you say truckers trying to compete . What you say . High prices on everything and they are people moving the products up and down the road and we feel bureaucracy wasnt fantasyland. I was a we are listening, we made a proposal based on the crude way of saying we have done things academically and its time to test the theories with actuality and implementation and with got divorce the table from your industry and others saying your assumptions may be aggressive or all but in my not be as available as you think. Ill be honest with you, and my career i have seen where the Trucking Industry has made Great Strides and even fuel economy and the epa will come out with some rule and it will increase the amount of oil we use in our trucks and decrease the integrals the fuel out of those trucks and decrease the life of the engine and it seems like auto who the epa talks to or listens to but its certainly not the Trucking Companies trying to make a living. With that, ill yield back and the chair recognizes mr. Cross from florida for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here today. My district includes the small Rural Community of delillo, its a community that both federal and local because of Illegal Dumping and abandoned gas stations, they leak into the groundwater. Most folks in the community cant support the walls or Water Filtration systems so people to understand or know, dont have public water source and we hope to help them fix. When we are out there chatting with residents people are scared and they dont know the quality of the one of their drinking and as a result residents have higher rates of cancer, brain disease and the tenor and its not just that, the community lacks real infrastructure, social programs, Environmental Issues on top of that exacerbated drug addiction as well. Being out there is difficult, its a difficult situation. Suicide, overdose and etc. So i had a great conversation with regional administrator gail and he committed to come out and we are hoping to get on the schedule soon. The communities with the greatest needs are often times the ones without resources and connections or know how to secure funding needed to take care of these problems so how does the epa make sure its like rainwater and Drinking Water grants reach all communities with limited experience with the federal grant making process . Thank you for your leadership and appreciate your questioning. Theres a couple things i would like to say thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law and inflation production act, we have resources we can put to used to provide Technical Assistance to these communities so they are a competitor position to receive these resources. We have come back and look at traditional funding at the state level through appropriations to see where the governors are spending their money and we have added criteria sure amenities like the one you listed have a seat at the table and can be competitive for these resources so right now there is more competitive opportunity for communities like this, 50 billion in Water Infrastructure resources to funnel to those communities the other thing is 40 of those resources have to go communities disadvantaged or lower income or lack infrastructure to provide for their communities. Again, we have ramped up outreach in addition, have administrators that will come in when time and listen to the community and help them think through how to get those resources. We got a holistic approach there. What can our office to ahead of the meetingap to make sure te best ways for a productive visit . Willa get photos and show them around but what can we do to prepareso so their real resourc . Ask for the meeting which i will make sure happens. I think the understanding of community makeup, infrastructure make up, unique challenges the community faces, if we understandnd that before we geto the meeting, we are better prepared to provide answers and assurances so a preliminaryry meeting would be advisable and whate. We are learning as so may communities have been left behind, so many different colleges, there isnt this at all, the best way to be prepared is armed with the information. What would a Government Shutdown me for communities like this across the Country Living with undrinkable water . What Government Shutdown mean . We can have meanings like the one you justke said, regional experts go down and talk through how to solve the solutions. We cant send inspectors to ensure the water they are drinking safe. We cant look at billions of dollars we dedicate small Rural Communities to combat contaminants, we cannot do this work. Communities will be left behind if the government shuts down but the communities already impacted will be further left behind. Thank you for being here today, i look back. The chair recognizes mr. Tomko for five minutes. I think the chair and Ranking Member for holding this important hearing. Thank you for your excellent leadership, we appreciate it. Integrity is essential to protect Public Health and the environment. I have lots of efforts to prioritize and build the integrity of the agency and disastrous political interference in the last administration. Scientific integrity is something i have focused on during my time in congress by offering and fighting for scientific integrity act. I believe it is crucial we continue to Work Together strengthen and improve policies across the federal government. I was excited to see the office of science and technology released federal scientific administrator, can you provide an update of the epa has made building and incrementing updated scientific integrity policy . We are excited. Under this administration scientists have a seat at the table and we are listening and did has invigorated, we are hoping will have a new policy s a result of the leadership youve demonstrated by this winter. New way of instilling confidence science, not politics leading the way. Can you speak to the role of the office providing advice to employees and addressing the potential issues before they become fullfledged violations of the agencies integrity policy . Who taken very seriously and im excited to see cooperation at all levels within the agency to be sure we are not prohibiting best available science to move forward. We are responding to recommendations of how we can do it better. I have had a number of conversations on how can follow guidance so i was say i am proud of scientific integrity process, something that is taken seriously all our leaders and we are seeing the agency take strides in this area. How important is it for complaints and seeking advice from Scientific Integrity Office . All of our employees let us know work will be done and received in good faith and not face retribution. We want to follow the signs, the law. That is our mission and goal. In order too get the best out of our employees, they have tobe build safe and comfortable they have to believe they are going to be listed to doing that. Earlier in my tenure in congress, i made a goal to bring attention to our infrastructure incredibly important to our communities and way of life and businesses that require water. As we did many chores along the eastern seaboard, one of the discoveries repeated over and over was lack of an interest in issues like those required to maintain water supplies, terrific responsibilities but failed because there wasnt that attention in the area of infrastructure so yesterday i was thrilled to see the epa announced the Grant Funding developing Career Opportunities in the water sector. The workforce is essential to protect environment to host from pipes and pumps to rivers and lakes and infrastructure is in dire need of restoration and need for human infrastructure buildup. Like many, sectors facing unprecedented staff shortage. Can you speak to the current need of the water sector and how this will bolster the next generation and the Young Professionals be required to careers in order . Thank you for your leadership but this 50 billion we are not investing in Water Infrastructure so personal and have something here how to manage so these thing facilities now will be revised and the need a skill set to manage. We are spending resources because we spent time on the ground with mayors with utility operatorss understanding the he workforce. Itss instilling pride, bringig back educated well resourced individuals to run these facilities and ensure their communities receive good quality Drinking Water. I think weve connected those of us and we are investing in infrastructure in the people and i believe now we are on track to get more people clean Drinking Water can we have had in a long time. Very much encouraged that. With that in your back. This hearing is adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] monday, march hes been series in partnership with the library of congress, books that shaped america. Future narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass written in 1845, the first of three autobiographies Frederick Douglass and deeply personal and sometimes graphic language he described his childhood years on the Eastern Shore of maryland. His time as a slave in baltimore and his escape north in 1838. The book was widely sold and had the influenced family she. Watch books that shaped america featuring the life of Frederick Douglass. Monday live 9 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan, cspan now, free mobile video out or online at cspan. Org. For sure to scan the qr code and listen to our companion podcast for you can learn more about the authors of the book features. Cspan is the unfiltered view of government funded by these Television Companies and more including charter communications. Charter is proud to be recognized as one of the best internet providers and via just Getting Started building 100,000 miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it most. Charter Communications Support cspan as a Public Service along with these other Television Providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. A look at preventing the use of a eye contact and Campaign Material with the former chair of the federal Election Commission and other witnesses testifying before the senate most of the administration committee. This is about two hours. Good afternoon, i am honored to call this hearing to order. I am pleased to be here with my colleague senator fisher, ruby red slippers that symbolize theres no place like home. This week in washington is on your mind so thank you for being here, i know we have other members here and i want to thank Ranking Member and her staff and chukar elections. Will introduce our witnesses shortly but we are joined by secretary of state steve sammons, faxed experience running elections reflected in our state and the president of the Campaign Center and, commissioner and chair, thank you for being here. To remaining witnesses. Senior Research Fellow at the center for growth and opportunity and free speech counsel at freedom. Any emerging technology a. I. Comes with significant risk and our loss need to keep up. Some of the risks are ready security which includes protecting Critical Infrastructure against cyber, attacks and staying ahead of one adversary. People who produce constant encountering among resident and i to scam people. Confronting these issues is a major bipartisan focus here in the Senate Two Weeks ago convened the person series to discuss the technology with experts of all backgrounds. As for how we addressed given democracy and the hope is to move this by year end of a registration with bipartisan support. There was an a. I. Generation and people from the opposing party in high nearly 200,000 users in a weekend a. I. Generated content has begun to appear in political ads, one a. I. Generated image, trump hugging. The problem for voters is people not be able to distinguish t