Dan Sullivan

There seems to be a lack of reciprocity in how they operate and how we operate.

The Trump administration has pretty much put out a red line.

It definitely should not happen with nominees to go fill senior VA positions.

The games occur on the floor of the Senate, where this administration's nominees have been delayed in ways that have been unfortunately historic.

Those games do not occur on this Committee.

Delays and delays and delays on, you know, Senate, or Presidential-appointed nominees, particularly as it relates to the VA---- would be a shame.

Let us get them confirmed, let us get them going. We do not need 40 hours of debate on some of these.

We need to get those from you. I would ask my colleagues on this side of the aisle, on the other side of the aisle, though, none of the games, right?

I commend the administration for its focus on that.

Probably one of the best ways to deal with homelessness is grow the economy, and I think the administration deserves credit and a lot of kudos on that.

I talked about the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act.

We have added over 100 employees, including two docs, at the CBOC in the Mat-Su Valley.

We finally passed out of the Committee here the Serving Our Rural Veterans Act, which was Senator Tester and I's bill.

I have--I could contact one of your staffers, but there are a lot of things that would wish that they would go off the shelf to do it because you don't--you don't set your fields on fire and you don't destroy your traditional fishing…

Right. Thank you. Excellent.

With a process that's very hard to understand.

The Executive order for the National Ocean Policy says it's voluntary marine planning, that's a quote.

Congress recognized the problematic nature of the National Ocean Policy when similar attempts and schemes in legislation failed to advance in four consecutive Congresses under both Democrat and Republican majorities.

You can submit anything about that for the record. And if you don't have anything positive, that's all I'm going to ask for.

Everyone wants to do that. Everyone on this Committee wants to do that.

Even if it's the greatest thing in the world, you can't do it without Congress designating that.

Alaskans have a symbiotic relationship with their oceans and marine life, and more so than any other state, rely on the health and sustainability of our oceans and the resources within them.

Thank you, Senator Blumenthal.

That's a very good point, and that's why I think having Mr. Keppen here is powerful.

As one of Alaska's Senators, I care deeply about America's oceans and marine resources.