I have long supported the importance of research to find cures for diabetes and other diseases.

What's it going to take to do that, and is there any reason to believe that there is an interest or a willingness on their part to come back to the table?

Small businesses employ about one-third of America's scientists and engineers and produce more patents than large businesses and universities.

Many New Hampshire small businesses have successfully competed for SBIR funding over these past 27 years.

As a Senator from New Hampshire, I take particular pride in the SBIR program.

We're going to introduce the nominees briefly. Then I'm going to ask Senator Murkowski if she would like to make a statement.

I appreciate, as Senator McCain said there has been a change relative to storage of nuclear waste.

I certainly agree with you that energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest way for us to address our energy needs.

Good afternoon everyone. For those of you who follow the Energy Committee, you know that I'm not the person who usually sits here.

I would like to pick up on Senator Udall's comment about the importance of small business.

I would hope that we would take every opportunity available to us to raise the issue of what is happening there and loudly demand that the world not allow this to continue.

We really need the broad, integrated approach; clearly.

I think the protection issue is an absolutely critical one.

I would hope that all of us--those of you who are headed to this part of the world would raise that issue whenever we have the opportunity.

What a difference it would make to our foreign policy if we are successful again in aggressively moving toward energy independence.

I don't really have any more questions except to pick up on what you just said, Senator Corker.

You're are absolutely correct. It does not need to be broader to increase the protections.

I mean, I guess, as I read this definition, it would address the concerns that you all were raising.