Do you have, does DOE have, a specific individual who Alaskans can contact to determine the status of their claims and get other questions answered?

Well, if there is not, I would certainly hope we are not leading people down a path that is obviously very difficult...

Well, I am looking at the language that was pulled from the MOU and the language as I am reading provides that: 'Provided that, consistent with subpart D, such a determination will prevent DOE and may prevent a DOE contractor from…

The numbers and the statistics, they are not acceptable. They do not work.

Clearly, the Department of Energy had a substandard operation when it came to implementing this compensation program.

It's an insult to the Americans who worked in these plants.

We must make sure that claimants found eligible for benefits are promptly compensated.

Our nation owes them a debt of gratitude.

I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I offered an amendment in September with your colleague here Senator Murkowski co-sponsoring the amendment.

We have some statistics that, unfortunately, are off the charts when it comes to rates of alcoholism.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We need to work with our communities on that. We need to work to push the prevention issues.

I do not know whether it is in the Administration's kind of spot light, if you will, to elevate this position as Director to perhaps an Assistant Secretary level, but perhaps you would be the first so named.

I think that speaks a lot. And if you listen well to the concerns and are willing then to implement afterwards, I think we all win.

If I had to characterize my views on the proposed Bering Sea Crab Rationalization Program at the moment, I would probably say it is undecided.

It is clear that a 'race for fish' is no longer the optimum strategy for management, if it ever was.

If I had to characterize my views on the proposed Bering Sea crab rationalization program at this moment, the appropriate word would be 'undecided.'