Thank you for holding this important hearing to advance our Nation's highway and highway safety programs.

I'd like to thank my colleague, Senator Tom Udall, who has joined me in sponsoring this bill.

New Mexicans in the majority rejected S.1689 despite Bingaman and Udall's claims otherwise.

We are respectfully writing to thank you for scheduling a hearing on S.1090, the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2011.

What are you protecting these lands from? Do you think non-use is the answer?

I, as a long time New Mexico resident, am greatly offended by Senator Bingaman's 'my way or the highway' attitude.

I am opposed to the wilderness bill S.1024 because the bill as written does not allow for routine access by law enforcement personnel.

How can you think 'wilderness on the border', which locks the public and the Border Patrol out of those areas, to be acceptable?

Your Senate Bill 1024 will eliminate the District's access to key areas of this watershed to perform any watershed restoration projects.

S.1024 is the same bill as the original Wilderness Bill with only minor changes.

Senator Jeff Bingaman's bill S-1024 is a further government intrusion into the rights of all citizens by depriving them access to areas covered by this unacceptable bill.

Senator Bingaman and a wide range of local governments, communities, user groups, conservationists, and Federal agencies have worked collaboratively to develop this consensus proposal to protect all of these special areas.

I would ask consent to include Commissioner Bersin's entire letter in the record.

I think safety is the key here and I am going to want to hear from each of you as to how you believe we should move forward on the safety issue.

I strongly support both nominations.

I agree that heavy oil, oil shale, and methane hydrate are very significant domestic resources.

Yes, and I think that statement is very true, your last statement.

the Commission concluded that enhancements intended to provide a greater commemoration of World War I may be better suited at the National World War I Memorial in Pershing Park