Thank you very much.

I hope that there is very serious discussion about this transition and how quickly we can do it and how we make sure that this is an Afghan-led security operation.

This is a hearing on S. 2374, the Helium Stewardship Act of 2012.

I urge my colleagues to support her nomination and I hope that the Senate will confirm her as soon as possible.

I want to thank each of you for your commitment to public service and your willingness to serve the Nation.

We have been very impressed with their performance.

European allies remain vitally important to the United States, and the new strategic guidance calls Europe 'our principal partner in seeking global and economic security.'

President Obama has nominated a well-qualified person to be Associate Director for National Security and International Affairs.

I just hear a lot of discussion in New Mexico about this whole privacy issue.

But I think the important thing is to strike the right balance for the benefit of consumers.

Senator Shaheen and Senator Blumenthal have both spoken to me repeatedly about the importance of this hearing.

I think all we are asking here, Mr. Chairman, is what can we do to do things smarter, and how can we do these collectively with taking the rhetoric out.

We ought to be investing like crazy.

we are just losing electrons because of old infrastructure. There has to be a smarter way to do it.

We need to ensure that our electrical grid is resilient and can withstand the impacts of severe weather.

If there was a cyber attack that was issued on any one of us anywhere in the country, I am terrified of what would happen, and what that could do to destroy commerce in America.

Thank you very much.

As you are aware, Director Ashe, the Center for Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management in Carlsbad is a respected and independent third party non-profit organization responsible for holding the lizard permit as part of these…