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.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 409, noes 1, not voting 21, as follows: [Roll No. 290]…

The Department of Defense has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by a third over the next decade, and the expansion of renewable energy development on our installations will be key to meeting that goal.

The California Desert Protection Act represents a significant and laudable effort to preserve the environment and promote the development of renewable energy while, at the same time, protecting the ability of the U.S. military to carry out…

I am concerned that those who are willing to invest in these projects are going to get gun shy about investing in future projects.

I think we must be cautious when we oppose renewable energy projects on Federal lands by proposing more wilderness areas and other forms of procedures.

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.

Chairman Bingaman and members of the Committee, thank you for your consideration of our comments and we look forward to working with you and Senator Feinstein to both improve and pass this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, earlier this year we lost a national treasure and a personal hero of mine, former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall. Though quiet and humble, his impact was that of a giant and his defense of our Nation's wildlands will…

we have significant concerns about the negative impact that the bill, in its present form, would have on wind energy development

I do think and agree quite strongly with the chairman that we must diversify our energy sources to include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, as well as nuclear and other sources.

I did want to acknowledge Senator Feinstein's leadership.

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

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

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.

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