I have the honor of introducing another Coloradan, Tom Strickland, to be the next Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the Department of Interior.

Tom Strickland is one of the finest public servants that has ever been produced by the State of Colorado.

He is somebody who cares passionately about making sure that our generation leaves more opportunity, not less, to the generation that is coming after us.

The multiplier effect of arts spending is impressive: every dollar in cultural spending returns nine in federal income taxes.

As a result of my life experiences and background, I am a strong supporter of the arts and have been a longtime advocate of arts education.

In my district, we have 2,670 arts-related businesses that employ 8,292 people.

In growing up, arts put food on my table.

These businesses stimulate innovation and play a critical role in building and sustaining our economy.

I want to thank Chairman Kohl and Ranking Member Martinez for holding this hearing to address such salient issues related to Alzheimer's and how we can best tackle the challenges ahead in battling this disease.

I think it would provide tremendous change not just for the way we would analyze Alzheimer's, but in many other areas as well.

Why do I know that Tom Strickland will be an excellent Assistant Secretary of the Interior? He has an exceptional track record of leadership.

It speaks highly, I think, of the motivational leadership of both Secretary Salazar and his chief of staff and nominee to be the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Tom Strickland, that so many of their fellow Coloradans…

I'm particularly pleased to support that nomination of Tom Strickland for Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks because he's had a long, long history of activism on behalf of protecting our national and State parks and public…

I have another honor, that of introducing and supporting another fellow Coloradan, Tom Strickland, to be the next Assistant Secretary for----

If confirmed, I will work with Congress, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and partners to investigate other incentives to engage more land owners in natural resource conservation.

We will now look at the specific language of that bill. I know it was one of the specific areas of conflict (in the legislation). Can't let the perfect be the enemy of what's already a very spectacular bill. We will now look at the…

I understand the ESA requires that decisions to exclude areas from critical habitat be based on a case-by-case determination that the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion in a particular case.

I understand that the Fish and Wildlife Service has a longstanding position that Recovery Plans are guidance and are only advisory in nature.