opening statement

Has the U.N. made specific requirements of the Sudanese Government with regard to the protection of these NGOs?

I was very pleased, as was Chairman Feingold, with the appointment of Gen. Scott Gration as the special envoy to the Sudan.

Nuclear in the mix, I'll guarantee you that.

Why have we not been able to get together as a nation and resolve our serious energy problem?

I think that it is almost necessary to see a single proposal come forward combining energy and environment.

Our decision about energy will test the character of the American people and the ability of the President and Congress to govern this Nation.

I pointed out to the Soviet Union, in a speech, that we would use every resource at our command, not excluding nuclear weapons, to protect America's security.

We ought not to abandon great improvements in order to seek for perfection, which might cost five or six times as much to build a plant.

We've had enough, and our dependence upon foreign oil has really got to stop, and we are not inclined to use our military trying to protect people who are trying to hurt us.

I think it would also minimize the adverse influence of special interest groups who don't want to see the present circumstances changed.

Senators Kerry and McCain recently have sponsored the increased mandatory efficiency of automobiles.

I would hope that we would take the leadership role in accurately describing the problem, not exaggerating it, and tying it in with the conservation of energy.

I think there would be two basic elements of it. One is an omnibus proposal that could be addressed collectively by the Congress.

In fact, all the way through at least the George H.W. Bush administration, we were in the forefront of evolving the Kyoto Accords.

It's got to be a high priority for him.

The rural electric programs are vital to the nation, and especially to my home state.

We are very pleased to see you here, pleased to see you willing to commit yourself to America's farmers and ranchers.