We politely told you to go pound sand, that you didn't have that authority.

Did you go to Alaska in terms of public hearings for this rule?

You can't pass a law, so you break a law with a regulation. The States that are impacted are almost 100 percent against it, which you will get sued on this one, trust me.

So it is not partisan. The concern is federalism and the law. It is not the environment. We all want a clean environment.

Three thousand pages, 5 years in the making, 60 days to comment? Do you think that is fair?

SMCRA provides States--I just read it. 101(f), the primary government responsibility on developing, authorizing, issuing, and implementing regs belongs with the States.

You are making a rule that goes into essentially the ability to nullify.

So there is no demonizing here. The problem is when a Federal agency doesn't follow the law, it is our responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen.

we all know that our economy is overregulated, and this overregulation undermines our ability to grow our economy and create good jobs. I am sure all the Senators know that just this last quarter we grew at 0.7 percent GDP growth. We can't…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To require each agency to repeal or amend 1 or more rules…

I call up my amendment No. 2996. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Sullivan] proposes an amendment numbered 2996 to amendment No. 2953.

I think it is an opportunity, a rare one, to be honest, where you have the legislative branch supporting the executive branch on a major foreign policy strategy.

I rise in support of an amendment that I am hoping will be part of the Energy bill currently being debated on the floor and being shepherded through the Senate by my colleague from the great State of Alaska, Senator Murkowski. I commend…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for as much time as I may consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Alaska sits in a critical strategic location, and is the crucible where NORTHCOM, EUCOM, and PACOM all intersect.

By the summer of 2020, two squadrons of F-35s should have attained full operational capability at Eielson AFB.

Are we targeting ISIL forces as part of our CT mission in Afghanistan?

Right now it is still not in my State, and I would like an update just on the timeline and how you see that pilot program going forward.

If we are able to fix the big issues in Alaska, I think it is going to give you a good sense of how to fix things nationally.

I really want to work with the two of you... just to get your commitment to being able to work on some ways to just stop this.

Let me just say if the Army retained the 425 at its full strength... would it not send a strong message?

Do you think removing these forces emboldens the already unstable leader of North Korea or Putin?

We know the intention of IS [the Islamic State]. We have seen this in the media.

I think a lot of Senators are very interested in it. To be honest, I don't think we're doing enough to be ready for a threat that we know is coming.

I think that they have been doing a very good job in terms of their selection of their top military generals.