We do need--I know you postponed some things, but this February 2 announcement, of course, is an important one.

And was that agreed to between SAMHSA and the States, that you all would do all of the identification and reporting so that they could use 100 percent of their money for treatment?

So of the $10 million that went to you, only $650,000 went for----

We welcome the opportunity to continue to work together with BP and the Gulf Coast Restoration Organization.

BP was not under any legal obligation to set up any fund of relief for rig workers put out of work because of the moratorium.

I am dismayed the Federal Government itself did not have any monies readily available to respond through our own agencies.

the law is deficient and can be and hopefully will be corrected so that the next time there is an environmental spill ... the polluter, the violator in this case be held accountable.

there is no law requiring them to contribute in any way to social services, mental health.

And so do we know where the other non----

I know there is nothing that requires you to do it. I am clear about the law.

This industry, 9 months after this accident, deep water drilling is still virtually shut down.

I want to thank both leaders of this Commission, Senator Graham and Mr. Reilly for your contributions to this effort which is an extremely important subject for our Nation, for the Gulf Coast and particularly for the State of Louisiana…

One thing that I'm particularly pleased about because I don't think people expected this is that this committee made an unequivocal or this Commission, comment or statement about the importance of the future of this industry.

I want to after further review of it, support that concept. I was initially skeptical.

Mr. President, on January 5, 2011, Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland became the longest-serving female Senator in the history of our country. Breaking this record, which was set by an extraordinary woman in her own time Margaret Chase…

As you may know, Senator Wyden and I and our other West Coast colleagues yesterday reintroduced legislation to permanently ban offshore drilling along the West Coast of the United States.

But it was a disaster to Louisiana, my home State, in two ways: One, to our ecology, no question about it; but maybe even worse and longer term in jobs.

But also, your solution in expanding Medicaid coverage is also a hidden tax. And it's basically an unsustainable situation.