Lisa Murkowski

The Discussion Draft bill that we are working on here in the committee would give much more autonomy to States to make decisions about education policies.

I think it was the intention of the ranking member and myself that we go back and forth. We have done that, six each time now. I don't have other Members on our side who are either present, which we have asked them to be, or have asked me…

Again, let me remind my colleagues that while we may agree we need to address this legal--but there is a loophole in the law. As many of us have just voted, 75 I believe, we say we need to address this oilspill liability trust fund issue…

I am happy to make sure that is allowed. It wasn't included in the consent, but I am certainly happy to allow for the minute as Senator Boxer has asked.

Reserving the right to object, I want to make sure we understand the vote was scheduled to begin 3 minutes ago. As part of the unanimous consent agreement, there was not a time allowed for Senator Boxer to speak. I don't have a problem in…

I understand the Senator from Vermont is just going to speak to an amendment he has filed. He is not seeking to call up the amendment; is that correct?

I don't know how much time the Senator from North Dakota is seeking this morning. Maybe that would help the Senator from Vermont in understanding the schedule.

The bipartisan Forty Hours is Full Time Act would accomplish the same goal.

I appreciate your focus on reliability.

I would just like your affirmation that that is your intention.

I do think that it is something that should be encouraged.

Let me ask then, because I mentioned in my opening that I have recently sent a letter over to the Chairman at FERC to request that the Commission convene this technical conference to hear formally from DOE, other stakeholders, about the…

I was pleased for your personal commitment to me that you were going to be very mindful of the reliability piece.

I am following on the chairman's remarks here about the issue of reliability.

These rules could seriously challenge the reliability of our Nation's grid system and push more Americans into energy insecurity.

It appears that the Administration is intent on transforming the very nature of energy production and use regardless of costs or sometimes even feasibility.

At its core FERC's purpose is to ensure reliable energy at just and reasonable rates.

I think we recognize that it is an increasingly important, independent agency.

But we have not seen that through the budgets put forth by this Administration. We have seen zero help there. We need you to help us. I am going to be very direct with that because we are going to demand that you help us.

I would really encourage that. Quite honestly, folks don't want to hear that we are engaged in more process.

I have committed to him, as I have committed to Alaskans, that one of the things we can do most certainly at this point in time is to repeal Section 910 of VAWA, absolutely Alaska-specific there, but I think an effort that goes a long way…

Thank you for your work and efforts to repeal Section 910 of the Violence Against Women Act.

I am committed. We are going to get this Section 910 repealed, get that done and over with.

We specifically extend our appreciation to Senator Murkowski and Senator Begich for their support and efforts to repeal the Alaska exception of the Violence Against Women Act.

When it takes our young people to shame the grownups into action, we darned well better be paying attention.