Remember, the history of deregulation is supposed to bring more competition, but what it has really done is bring consolidation.

I happen to think the Federal Trade Commission, as Senator Hollings suggested, is one of the most important places in government from the standpoint of the consumer.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and it is really a pleasure to be able to introduce Sean O'Hollaren to the Committee and to support his nomination as Assistant Secretary.

I thought it was a very unfortunate opinion that the Commission issued last week on gas prices.

That would have been one thing. But to just say, there is anticompetitive practices going on, and that is the way it goes, is unacceptable to this Member of Congress.

the President would be vigilant in ensuring that consumers will be protected from price-gouging at the gasoline pump this summer.

We Oregonians are very proud to see nominated for this position, and look forward to his confirmation.

We need to bring some order to an important but unproductive environmental review process that threatens the ability of the U.S. aviation system to meet future demands.

It's important to point out that we are not seeking to change, weaken or loosen existing environmental law.

I agree with the President and have been actively working with Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens on legislation to streamline current environmental reviews required of critical airport construction projects so the nation can…

My constituents are frustrated with flying, because of flight delays, cancellations and congestion at our airports.

Last month, President George W. Bush said that the nation needed to expand airport capacity in order to reduce the number of air travel delays and that there were a number of environmental regulations that prohibit the expansion of runways.

I think that was the point Senator Stevens was trying to make.

I have known Kathleen for a long time. She is not only a very smart person, and an experienced person in the field of economics, but she is a person of great character, and I recommend her fully to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

I might add that that was part of the design of the FAIR Act--I had a little bit to do with that.

I think it is time that we start to think out of the box.

If we exported the bulk commodities, those countries could go to more specialty crop areas.

I want to encourage you to keep up the fight, and you will have my strongest help.