Would you also commit to helping us expedite from Interior and BOEM's position those approvals?

We expect the environmental assessment process to move forward much more quickly because of the groundwork that has been done.

Thank you, and I want to thank Deputy Secretary Hayes for his great work in this effort.

Thank you very much, Senator Johnson.

Secretary Salazar is a rock star in Vermont. People still talk about his visit up there, and I appreciate that.

And let me say thank you, thank you, thank you to you and Senator Murkowski and the members of this subcommittee for making sure we get the additional resources to be able to do the job right.

I believe, that all of the proceeds from production--from the gulf, from the Chukchi, from Bering, from Beaufort--all of those go to the Treasury of the United States.

Thank you very much.

Criticism from some about investments in the LWCF, I will just say he is not on this subcommittee, but Senator Barrasso and Senator Enzi from Wyoming are great beneficiaries of the LWCF.

So there is a direct correlation between the increased fees and we hope the effectiveness of the inspections and the oversights, which after the Macondo spill, clearly, we need a more effective system.

One of the proposals that we discussed quite seriously in the appropriations process last year, was an onshore inspection fee, that the BLM would be able to charge, an increase in fees, for that effect.

the way in which we could move forward with the true conservation agenda that fulfills the dreams of many in the conservation world would be to have enough money to be able to do many more of these landscapes.

I would hope, with the leadership of this subcommittee, that we can see some august, robust support for the LWCF.

Even with such an increase, my presumption from what I have seen, would only cover a fraction of the BLM's cost to maintain this facility.

Very important and timely questions. In fact, let me just follow up.

Rhode Island has been helping lead the way on offshore wind in developing its 'pilot-scale' offshore wind project

I want to welcome our witnesses to the subcommittee's oversight hearing on Federal offshore and onshore energy development programs within the Department of the Interior.

Making sure that the right resources and policies are in place and that safe and responsible energy development on public lands is a significant part of this subcommittee's jurisdiction.