Don Young

We might as well have a king.

I don't want a king.

Essential air service is crucial to my State.

This is one of the best panels I have been able to be Chair of.

I know there is no chance in--can I say hell in this committee--no chance in hell of that happening.

If we had done what I said 15 years ago that we should have, we would not be here today.

Let the Congress of the United States take the heel off the people of Puerto Rico and let them live prosperously.

You have gone a step forward, above and beyond. You have actually asked for statehood for Puerto Rico.

Some on the other side of this dais would have you believe that the solution to the crisis is simply providing Puerto Rico's government tools to restructure their enormous debt using Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code.

We have neglected for over 100 years a territory that should be a state. We have neglected main America and this Congress. And I will say shame on us.

This is a territory that should be a state, and I have been very partisan of that, not Republican or Democrat, but because I believe in it.

I think you have done a lousy job, because they are at the bottom of the list.

I am terribly disappointed in your Department in a lot of areas in my state and, of course, with the EPA overall.

I am not happy with the administration. I try to keep from getting involved politically, but when they shut down all the leases for 2 years without any consultation...

The potential of the Arctic, not only the minerals, but the potential to improve the well-being of the people of the United States has to be done with a concrete plan with everybody working together.

I don't want to hear a lot of talk, we have a tendency to do that, and allow Russia and China to take over the Arctic.

I represent that whole State, every lick, and including the mosquitos.

This Congress has to recognize we have to put an infrastructure in place.

We need new icebreakers, we need new docks. We don't have any docks.

I will tell you, Alaska sort of feels like the ugly debutante. No one paid any attention to the Arctic until recently.

We need to tear down the walls. We need to connect the dots and focus more on outcomes as opposed to inputs.

I want to take your help and put it in the business.

This is my intent--to make things clear, more positive, consistent.

I suggest, respectfully, that you and each person at that table give us some suggestions.

Where the Department had received its authority to acknowledge tribes.