I want to thank you again for the USGS study that came out updating the recoverable oil reserves in North Dakota.

The nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power. This is a fundamental power-grab by the majority party. It is nothing more or nothing less.

I would say that that's a matter of the highest priority to get resolved.

I really believe that. And it will kill agriculture.

Unless we're able to hold water from the wet years for the dry years, California will end up as a desert State.

This is something that isn't setting well with the people in the State of Alaska, and it clearly doesn't set well with me.

Well, and honor the Supreme Court's decision, but also honor that trust responsibility to our first peoples.

My staff has searched; they can find no other State in the Union that was ever asked to effectively pay to gain the lands that were promised them when they joined this Union.

I honestly believe it's possible for you to set a policy agenda at the department that is beneficial to all parties.

I need to have some assurance going forward that we're going to be able to deal with this.

There is no doubt in my mind but that when the Federal Government comes into land that has been federally designated, drills wells, walks away from it, leaves a mess, that that is the Federal Government's responsibility.

It's our understanding that there have been some attempts in the past by small, mobile refining interests to gain access to the Federal helium pipeline.

I also want to acknowledge the good work of Deputy Secretary David Hayes, and I share the chairman's appreciation for the work that you have provided for the Department of the Interior under former Secretary Salazar.

the notion that the State must pay for the final lands entitled to it under the statehood act is equally wrongheaded.

I must tell you that there are two proposals in this request that are, frankly, an insult to the people of Alaska.

You're absolutely right about the urgency of this.

What Senator Murkowski and I do in S. 783 is focus on a new strategy to obtain the fair market value of helium.

So do you feel that there is any ambiguity with the Secretary's authority to consider granting new access to the pipeline?