Lisa Murkowski

The Sabine-Neches Waterway is probably one of the more important waterways in the Nation.

It is just more than just shale up north. It is about having infrastructure to accommodate a reality, a daunting reality that--it is almost as if a new ocean has been discovered at the top of the globe.

I have been a long proponent of making sure that we have infrastructure in the Arctic as we see developments taking place up north.

I am not ever giving up on King Cove and getting my 10-mile--the people of King Cove a 10-mile, one-lane gravel non-commercial use road.

I appreciate that. I am going to utilize a little bit of executive authority and call a recess for the committee until other members get back so that I do not miss this important vote.

Exports of LNG (liquefied natural gas) are a big deal for me both because of the Alaska LNG project.

So it is correct--I'm told that they will--they expect to have spent--``they'' being NuScale--$1.1 billion by the time construction begins on their first NuScale unit.

This is something that I'm going to continue to press and inquire on because my observation--or at least the people that are coming to me are saying it's lengthy, it's costly, there must be some way that we can be a little more efficient…

I think it would be helpful to have a handle on what real numbers are.

I know we haven't picked up that baton yet in 2016, but I think the commitment still is there.

I think we recognize that, as an Arctic nation, we have certain responsibilities, obligations, and icebreakers are right up there.

We have seen national security cutters every season in the summer up in the Arctic as we are seeing different traffic, different folks poking around up there that you probably would not anticipate.

You do recognize that Coast Guard's role, their mission truly has expanded dramatically as we are seeing greater activity within the Arctic region.

We recognize that it is expensive, but we also recognize that it is the Coast Guard's study that it be not just one icebreaker but there actually be three polar icebreakers and three smaller icebreakers.

We need both, and the recapitalization effort that you have spoken to is critically important for our country.

I appreciate that response, and know that you have got an ally in me in terms of how we can ensure people understand the imperative of building this out and doing it quickly.

I have alerted him to the fact that most of my questions this afternoon are going to relate to the Coast Guard budget.

My observation--or at least the people that are coming to me are saying it's lengthy, it's costly, there must be some way that we can be a little more efficient there.

I think the commitment still is there. Know that I certainly share that with you, that we're going to figure this out.

I think we need to at least keep them for an additional year, defer our decision for 1 year.

I appreciate what you have provided here today, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that the capabilities that we have with the 425th are continued.

Hopefully we will be able to get this ultimately enacted.

I want to thank you for taking action on these.

We cannot continue with business as usual. The cost to the taxpayers and the public do not match.

I want to thank Secretary Jewell for her bold action to modernize the Federal coal program.