Lisa Murkowski

I want to note we have a group of young Alaskans that are part of the Close Up Program that have been watching this.

I really do hope that we have full cooperation and participation from the Secretary and from his team in identifying how we can truly move this forward.

Well, it has long been a problem, so I hope that this revolutionary approach pans out.

We are hopeful that there will be a useful framework as we work on our energy legislation, so we will look forward to that.

I do not know if you or your staff have been notified of this, but as I have invited you to Alaska to review our renewable energy resources, I would also invite you to attend that summit or perhaps a designee if that would be appropriate.

This is the 48th consecutive month that the ATVM Direct Loan Program has been unable or unwilling to finalize a new direct loan for an auto maker or a component supplier.

I feel like I have got a second bite at the apple because you were before the Energy Committee not too many weeks ago, and I did have an opportunity to ask questions.

American forests work only if they do.

So it is vital to our national security interest.

This is a must, this is a must-have.

We should never ever take our eye off other corners of the world where we have individuals and regimes that are just potentially very, very volatile.

We know very well the importance of a strong homeland ballistic missile defense, and we are very proud, again, to host the cornerstone of that defense in Alaska.

Well, if you can get us that information, I think it would be helpful, Chief.

It is vital that we support self-determination for Native tribes.

I think we also need to be honest that it doesn't all come back to fire borrowing.

I am glad the Service has acknowledged the importance of the program and requested enough funding to extend FIA to interior Alaska.

I think we know that works to reduce some of the hazardous fuels risks that we have and that we pay for.

I appreciate you bringing it up.

So is that how you are going to be entering this coming fire season with this mix?

I am getting a little more familiar with that bat of yours. I do understand it eats the mosquitoes, and that is a good thing.

If your policies are going to shut off our timber opportunities in the Tongass... it just kind of suffocates you after a while.

I do share a little bit of the concern and, perhaps, disappointment that we have not been able to do better by some of our timber-reliant communities across the country.

Well, that is clear in Alaska because we have run off the timber jobs.

This conversation is just the same whether you are up north in Alaska or whether you are sitting there in Montana.

Even if the Big Thorne sale makes it out of litigation, there is really nothing by way of additional volume behind it.