Dan Sullivan

I think that we know a great deal, but I also believe that the ocean is our last unexplored part of our planet.

Let me ask one final question on the foreign country issue.

As I mentioned in my opening statement of course we can always do a better job on this as a country.

Do you think that we need to do something else from an international perspective that addresses this issue, particularly plastics from shore?

I think there has to be a deeper way in which we can address this with these other nations because it certainly seems like a core element of the problem.

But once again, this is an important partnership that we can't do on our own without NOAA and the help of the Coast Guard and others.

I think it is a great example of where we are working in a bipartisan manner.

I think it is an embarrassment to America as a great country that we are.

There's a lot of concern that the Scarborough Shoal has very important strategic significance.

I think leveling with this committee, leveling with the American people is very useful.

I think one thing--I would like you to answer that question, but I also think it diminishes the sacrifice of our troops and their families.

Why does the administration go through these crazy somersaults, that the entire country knows is not correct, to say our troops are not in combat?

Some people have mentioned to me, 'Well, maybe we--this should be referred to as post-traumatic stress injury.'

So, the bill is actually S. 1567, Fairness to Veterans Erroneously Discharged from the Military.

I just think they're ticking timebombs if we don't get ahead of this.

There is a bill--and I'm having my team take a look at it--that I've been looking at.

What authorities would you view, from our perspective, that you need from this committee or the Congress to do more to address some of the issues of the stigma PTSD or reducing the rates of suicide among our Active Duty and veteran…

It's a topic that we need to do a better job at.

It's a very important topic.

Now, look, polluters should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, I agree with that.

But if you are saying that you should be held to the same standard, let me just end with a related----

Only we can do that; the EPA can't do this.

This is the kind of statement that fuels the frustration so many Americans have regarding their Federal Government...

There are entire communities in my State that don't have clean water or flush toilets; they live in Third World conditions

But, Administrator, if it is a higher standard and you made a mistake, not intentional, you polluted dramatically a river...