Water is the lifeblood of the Southwest and we have seen its availability dramatically affected by extreme climate events.

In the face of these challenges I'm calling on parties to seek cooperation, not conflict.

I think the B-61-12 modernization program is very important to our Nation, and I fully support it.

You will work with us to bring down that price tag and do everything possible to create some efficiencies.

I want to echo the remarks that you heard from Senator Tom Udall, our senior Senator, about Mr. Gonzales.

I urge his confirmation. While he will be missed as our U.S. Attorney, I know that he will serve New Mexico well on the federal bench.

I'm pleased that the President has nominated him to fill this vacancy, and I'm pleased to be here today to support him.

I would certainly like to thank Senator Bingaman, who just retired just very recently, for the strong support that he has shown me over the years, and including support for this nomination.

Ken has made Indian country prosecutions a priority in the U.S. Attorney's Office.

I appreciate this opportunity to speak today, along with Senator Heinrich, and I'm very pleased to introduce Mr. Kenneth Gonzales to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Mexico.

I strongly support his nomination, and I urge this panel to act quickly to move his nomination to the full Senate for a vote.

We ought to be encouraging that. That should not be something that we just do for 3 years or 5 years.

It seems to me we have sort of three different issues, and maybe more than three.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) requested agency information on the amount of EAJA fees paid out by the U.S. Forest Service from 1999 through 2005.

It's been great to get to know you. Appreciate your leadership.

Thank you very much, Mr. Clarke.

A lot of conversation as to what we need to get done here with the implementation of this, and I think in the end what we can all certainly agree on is that we all want to make sure that we have more consistent treatment, better outcomes…

the importance of partnerships between the Federal Government, local governments, and private entities to be able to implement this, the importance of standards.