I rise to speak and also to respond to the comments of some of my colleagues on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the ongoing protests in my State of North Dakota. Here we have a chart showing the Dakota Access Pipeline. It is a 1,172-mile…

I think we have missed a couple of years here because of the uncertainty that has been in the market.

They are suggesting and expressing their unified position in opposition of efforts by petitioners to move the point of obligation on compliance.

I think there is, beyond an all-of-the-above energy policy that really works for the United States and gives us the diversity in our fuel choices.

Yes. And I would suggest that if you looked at the history of Great Plains, it is exactly that-- Federal loan guarantees that through negotiations, pennies on the dollar back to the Federal Government.

I do dispute somewhat the notion that the only value that the mandate has had is, those expressed in the statute itself, which is greenhouse gas, which is looking at energy independence.

just because, for a variety of reasons, we do not meet the targets does not mean the law is either a failure or needs amendment.

I think when we look at advanced--not to put a fine point on it, but this is a building block industry.

The bill that will inevitably get signed into law by the President--hopefully, in the next couple of weeks--will put demands on you to inform the public as well as inform this Committee and Congress about what those threats are.

We owe it to them to give them the best equipment.

I want to reiterate what you were talking about earlier, which is that there are tasks that are being performed by guys and gals wearing badges that really could be done by other professionals--especially as it relates to the UACs issue.

One of the biggest concerns from the Border Patrol agents I talked to when I was at Portal is communications.

That is not a formula for success--especially when they are going to have to rely on the sheriff to give them backup if they encounter an event.

I think we can find some good folks right there.

I rise today to pay tribute to my Deputy Chief of Staff Stephanie Schisler, who is retiring this week after 41 years of service in the Senate. She has been working here longer than 99 of the current Members of the Senate, which you would…

I think it is critical that we look for efficiencies, but I am always reminded of the story...

You could really make a case that is a national security imperative, because you do not want those same folks using those incredible skills to go do something else.

So how would you effectuate that, how would you implement that in Border Patrol?