the problem of Mexican drug cartels would be a top priority.

Phoenix, my city, has become known as the kidnapping capital of the United States.

Over 6,200 people died in drug-related violence in Mexico last year.

I have a strong belief that the Obama administration should reinstitute it.

I look forward to seeing you down there again soon as we deal with other issues relating to the offshore.

I just had a comment very, very briefly to follow up with Senator Sessions'.

One of the things that Senator Alexander and others, Senator Landrieu were involved in was the creation of a permanent royalty for conservation.

I think your approach to a more rational plan is something that I most certainly will support.

I don't believe the President could have made a better choice if he had looked all over the world, seriously, for a person to lead this Department than you.

I want to really commend you for your extraordinary leadership joining with so many of us, both Democrats and Republicans to open up some additional acres of drilling that had been shut off to development.

This is one of those interesting hearings where I find myself in complete agreement so far with every one of my colleagues.

I hope that as a nation we will be able to grow our domestic energy portfolio and develop these resources as opposed to stifling growth through strict federal environmental mandates and climate taxes.

The draft plan already received a record 120,000 comments from the States, environmental groups, industry, labor groups and members of the public with 87,000 of those comments supporting expanded and expeditious deployment.

Congress made the American people wait nearly 30 years to address our immediate energy challenges. Yet you have told the American people they must continue to wait.

At a time when our Nation's energy needs are continuing to grow, the Department of Interior will play a unique role in shaping and administering policies that will develop our domestic resources.

I have long said that I support clean energy but I support all forms of clean energy.

We have the capacity with the large amount of natural resources on our public lands to make an important step forward in achieving energy independence.

there is an appalling gap in our Nation's ability to respond to the use of a weapon of mass destruction on our soil.