Matteo Renzi: “this weekend I was fortunate to visit the Eskimo village of Kaktovik. And though I have respect for the gentleman from…”

“this weekend I was fortunate to visit the Eskimo village of Kaktovik. And though I have respect for the gentleman from Maryland, we did not eat whale meat or caribou, we ate turkey sandwiches. There are plenty of people that have never been to that Eskimo village who want to see the Eskimos in their igloos. They want them returned to the Ice Age. What the people want, the only people who live there, is they want safe, reasonable oil development. They want to see us and help us draw out those energy resources that are beneath their feet. We have taken the time to give them back their land, but we do not give them the opportunity to go after the resources that they need to sustain their economy. We spoke to an 81-year-old elder up there who believes that the land was given to him by the Creator. It was given to him to use in harmony, in a holistic approach. Mr. Chairman, what is so good about this legislation is that it requires the energy development companies to use the highest and best technology available to mankind. It requires that they not leave the environment scarred. It requires that fish and wildlife not be disturbed.”