Lisa Murkowski

It is not the intention of Senator Murkowski and I to diminish or decrease the funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

What I need to hear is that there is an understanding and an appreciation that with offshore development whether it is with oil or gas or wind or whatever renewable might be offshore, that there's a connection, if you will, to the shore.

Let the dialogs begin. But that is exactly what this FAIR Act is about is to try to bring some parity out there.

I hope that we will hear it admitted plainly.

This is why the Administration's opposition and apparent disinterest in working with us on this bill strikes me as disingenuous.

You've been relatively dogged, which is what needs to happen around here.

I think that this is one of those opportunities where we really do figure out how in perhaps a more creative way we're helping to provide a level of financial incentive out there within the private sector.

My hope, of course, is that we don't see losses that the taxpayers will be carrying on this.

I do think that this is something that should be subject to greater scrutiny, greater discussion.

I think a very relevant question is whether or not the Federal Government needs to continue to make a direct loan program available exclusively for automakers.

I think this notion or the concept of accountability and being able to determine whether or not we have achieved these goals is critical to the operations of the loan program.

I think you've heard from Senator Murkowski and I pretty clearly that we think that there is a very significant role that has to be afforded the private sector and marketplace forces.

I expressed my view that the Federal Government should prioritize more on the research activities side rather than deployment subsidies.

I would just repeat the request of my colleague here. I, too, would appreciate the opportunity to learn more in a closed setting.

I think you and I would agree that it helps to have additional testing.

It was absolutely my view that it was shortsighted by the Administration with the previous decommissioning of Missile Field 1 there at Greely.

My concern is that we not leave Greely at less than full capacity and capability.

There are future cost savings, I think, if we were to improve Missile Field 1 to 11 or 20 silos now instead of 6.

Increased American oil production or domestic production here, which I mentioned, is up 30 percent over the past 5 years, has reduced or at least restrained prices at the pump

We've got more untapped oil than any other State, we've got broad public support for new production.

It will mean rejecting rather than seeking punitive tax hikes, it will require the timely approval of needed projects, including the Keystone Excel pipeline.

If I may interrupt the Chair, which is not something that I like to do, but you have brought up, I think, a very important reality that here in this committee, we are producing, we are working, we are doing the work that committees should.

I believe that rising American production has reduced, or at the very least, restrained some of what we're seeing in terms of prices at the pump.

I continue to believe that we need to take every step possible to reduce and stabilize fuel prices for American families and for our businesses.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has recently issued critical habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl and has provided guidance that some harvest in the habitat can occur.