Senator Bingaman, with respect to the moratorium and its application, we have the moratorium in place...

Senator Bingaman, I hope that in the next several days we will have a number that is based on science...

The President has said that the moratorium will be in place until he gets his 6-month report.

We need to ensure that those harmed by this accident are fully compensated and that a system is in place that properly allocates risks and losses.

It's a sobering reality to see oil begin to impact the shorelines and know that this well is not yet under control.

The current penalty and liability system is inadequate.

Robust safety and environmental standards, and tough penalties for noncompliance with those standards, help to avoid disasters.

We need to ensure that we have adequate liability coverage for offshore drilling.

While today's hearing will focus on liability and financial issues, we continue to have foremost in our minds the human component of this accident.

It seems only right, given that the DOE is, in effect, an offspring of the Department of Defense.

Sixteen years ago, Senator Feinstein shepherded into law one of the most sweeping conservation bills ever.

This is legislation Senator Feinstein has proposed.

Thank you for holding a legislative hearing on S. 2921.

NIST and our national laboratories contribute much to science and apply some of the brightest minds in the country to some of the most significant challenges facing our Nation, from fighting terrorism to achieving energy independence.

I very much look forward to additional information for the record.

We have two of the great national laboratories in New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory.

You really hit it on the head, I think.

It's very good to have you here today, Dr. Wieman, and we look forward to your work in the executive branch, especially in the teaching area.