thieves are more likely to target utilities that are located in cities or suburbs rather than rural areas.

to be sure, it must be coupled with legislation like we have here today in order to truly combat that problem.

I will never forget testifying at the legislature about this, and we actually had a case I was able to show.

I think it is also important to consider that these crimes... do have some effect or disruption on instrumentalities of interstate commerce.

We are simply trying to get the information that we can get so that we can help law enforcement to solve them.

I do not think I have any higher priority than making sure that our veterans get the health care that they deserve.

I know and we know that the recordkeeping and retention requirements in the Klobuchar-Hatch bill will not end all metal theft across the country, but it is a positive, proactive step to helping law enforcement as we strive to reduce…

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to introduce Dr. Robert Petzel.

We owe our veterans nothing less.

How about the idea of some kind of increased criminal penalties for this kind of activity?

I think that it would go a long way in solving a problem.

I believe that we have enjoyed the--'enjoyed' probably is not the best word, but we have benefited from the tougher restrictions on scrap metal dealers in the State of Minnesota.

The Klobuchar-Hatch bill puts recordkeeping requirements on scrap yards and metal dealers, and I believe it is an effective step in deterring this crime.

I think that forcing or mandatorily forcing some restrictions on the scrap metal dealers is a good thing.

Both Senator Hatch and I have made statements that we do not see it that way.

However, to effectively stem metal theft across the country, Congress must act to ensure that these crimes do not find their way into other States.

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association supported tougher laws and restrictions on scrap metal dealers and were instrumental in helping pass laws that provided for the same.

I would look at it two ways. One is the penalties, but the other is to try to stop them from basically selling their wares in the first place.