The record will be kept open for questions.

I would just urge that it might be worthwhile to talk to BP about helping us accelerate the digitizing of the material you are using.

But I think it is important for us to get an early assessment as to the range in which we are talking about.

Let me interrupt you at this point because we are down to--oh, Senator Merkley has arrived.

I think seeing first-hand is critically important to try to at least comprehend the magnitude of what you are going through.

I want to make sure that our assessments are as transparent and open as possible today.

If the reported numbers are correct, we know that according to the testimony here today, BP has already agreed to somewhere around $45 million of funding for assessment studies.

This Committee, the Subcommittee as well as the full Committee, will be monitoring this as one of our highest priorities to make sure we get this right.

the direct relationship between human rights and security.

I think it needs to be, that we work both pieces together.

I do think there has to be more accountability in the U.S. participation.

I thank the Speaker for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, thank you. Thank you for the courage that you have shown. I don't know how many of you know Jim Langevin's story. Involved in the police boys club, 16 years of…

it's up to Mr. Rangel.

I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding. Speaker Langevin, I congratulate you on taking the podium. I congratulate you on your extraordinary service to the people of Rhode Island and the people of our country. And I congratulate…

Mr. Speaker, today we mark the 20th anniversary of one of the most defining and effective civil rights law passed by Congress--the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). More than twenty years ago, Americans with disabilities were too…

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I thank the gentleman. Rather than going into each one of them individually, I will say to the gentleman that each of those bills is under consideration. With respect to oil spills, there are significant discussions going on among the…

I thank the gentleman. As the gentleman knows full well, because he and I have been involved in discussions, I have consistently been for considering the appropriations bills in a timely manner with agreement between the majority and the…