We do want to encourage you and your colleagues up there to take a strong look to enforce accountability.

Let us close the loop on the claims process because it is still a very sore subject for obvious reasons.

I admire you for being here. I think it is a great step.

We are going to talk to some of the other Senators involved on these issues and figure out how we can try to influence Mr. Feinberg's boss.

The first is kind of a philosophical/ideological argument by some that this money should not be assigned but rather should be absorbed into the General Treasury of the United States.

In an ideal world, this bill would be written the way the Gulf state Senators want it and spent that way.

the purpose of the fine bill is not to advance any ideological view, but rather to deal with the fact that a bunch of people have been hurt really bad by the negligence of an individual company.

It cannot continue in this process where you have a bunch of people out there who feel like their claims have been denied and would like to appeal that decision.

I want to clarify that in my mind.

I am not sure it is the GCCF's place to be investigating claims of fraud.

I would like to be able to point to some of the real world--I mean, it sounds like you have a wealth of knowledge.

the truth is that my sense is that many of my colleagues who are committed to conservation and the environment probably have conservation and environmental projects in their home state and they see this as an opportunity to take some money…

I think the very persuasive argument has been made with regards to that.

the challenges politically, as you can imagine, in creating that chain and justifying it become harder

Mr. Speaker, as you heard me say earlier, my Republican colleagues and I are committed to providing a more open, accountable, and transparent process. And the underlying bill went through regular order, including eight different…

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 337 and ask for its immediate consideration. The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 337 Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this…

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), my colleague on the Rules Committee, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just like to address a couple of items: number one, the tax policy we've been talking about and how we could raise extra revenues. The tax policy we have today was given to us…