I will apologize ahead of time for my voice today.

I have certainly had constituents who have been directly impacted by the challenges that the national wildlife refuges, the parks along the border have imposed on people visiting those facilities.

I think we're very lucky to have you as Chairman, and this expertise that you've developed over time as chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I think, is going to be shown here today.

Nuclear power is an essential part of our energy mix.

I think you can see there is a real consensus on the Committee, on both Democratic--the Democratic and Republican side that we want to see those things happen.

I just hope that you make sure that that is administered in a very transparent way.

My questions fall exactly in line with where Chairman Thompson left off and talking specifically about the technology and some of the advantages that we could be using to assist you in meeting these goals.

For nearly 30 years, utilities did not order a single new nuclear power plant.

17 companies or groups of companies have ordered 26 new reactors.

The current generation of nuclear power plants was mostly built in the 1960s and 1970s and 1980s.

I think that's good. I would just say to you that when the delays don't seem to have an end it causes a lot of nerve wracking.

Our Nation has abundant energy resources, a good portion of which are found on our onshore public lands and in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Decisions that may prove essential to our Nation's energy security and economic well being.

Secretary Salazar has important decisions to make.

I hope Secretary Salazar can share with us his vision of how we can determine the best places for energy development.

we need to overhaul the existing energy infrastructure on which we all depend.

Their management is entrusted to the Federal Government.

But I do think that to me the energy question is national security.