On behalf of my representation of the 2nd District of Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives, I would like to present to you this American flag that has been flown over the United States Capitol.

I agree with the Congressman that the states can have everything that the Federal Government says they can do for you.

The residents of East Millinocket, Medway, and Patten have voted very strongly in opposition of Federal control of this area.

I want to make sure we do it this way, so that people have the chance to have their input.

This is a congressional hearing. It is not a debate.

This proposal does not square with a plain reading of the Antiquities Act.

There has been much distrust that has been building on this whole issue.

I have been a vocal critic of a national park in northern Maine for many, many years, and now the national monument.

I actually have a piece of legislation in my state to create a new national monument.

We are asking the President not to do another one in my state unless you have the input first.

we do have 50 million people in this country going hungry.

I introduced a bill last week that has a pretty simple proposal: create two labels--one that says 'expires on' for food that really is unsafe to eat after a certain date, and another that says 'best if used by' for everything else.

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It would create much less waste, something that most of us agree on, and you will find most of the manufacturers and others agree on it as well.

In my own state, we have a supermarket chain that is also committed to zero food waste.

We actually submitted a bill last week with Senator Blumenthal about date labeling to try to bring some sensibility into this.

Making sure that there are Federal funds available to municipalities who want to do that is another part of this.

It is wonderful to see that the USDA and the EPA together have announced a food waste reduction goal.