The dollars disbursed by the EDA are not going to waste.

I just want to state my very sincere and genuine appreciation to you, Mr. Sampson, and all the efforts that EDA has made in Alaska.

For 20 years, we have examined the need to make changes and actively considered how the Ninth Circuit should be restructured.

I can assure you that in Alaska it also is extremely important and one of those issues that generates huge response.

The Ninth Circuit has a direct and dramatic impact on my State.

Last year, in response to these problems, I introduced S. 562, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 2003.

Establishing a budget for the EPA is essential to continue to protect the environment and human health of the people of this Nation.

I want to make sure that we state clearly for the record--I have said it repeatedly to my colleagues, but it bears repeating here--that in order to facilitate an Alaska natural gas pipeline, we have got to get the energy bill through or…

I appreciate the fact that Alaska is recognized and contained within the solution when we are talking about meeting this country's demand for natural gas.

We do not want to go there with our natural gas when we have the reserves in this country.

If we fail to do that, I am concerned that when we look at this chart that shows the growth in Alaska production, that that is pushed out even further.

Quite honestly, looking at the figures, recognizing that right now we import 1 percent of our LNG, but by the year--what is it--2025 we will be at a point where we are importing 15 percent LNG, that is a dramatic increase in a relatively…

Have you advised the Alaskan claimants that there is no willing payor?

So if it is none, if it is zero--and we have also made that assumption, that there are none--what was the purpose of putting this language in the MOU?

Processing 25 percent of claims in six months is about 156 claims a week.

Essentially, they are being litigated to death, which is absolutely unacceptable, just unacceptable.

I recently supported Senator Grassley's attempt to move administration of Part D from the DOE to the DOL.

The people Congress wanted to help deserved so much better than they got.