Lisa Murkowski

I sense a strong commitment to safe and responsible development of the Arctic by the operators and by the regulators.

I guess I need to hear from you that you would agree that it's not the State of Alaska's responsibility to clean up the Federal Government's mess.

There is no doubt in my mind but that when the Federal Government comes into land that has been federally designated, drills wells, walks away from it, leaves a mess, that that is the Federal Government's responsibility.

I need to have some assurance going forward that we're going to be able to deal with this.

I honestly believe it's possible for you to set a policy agenda at the department that is beneficial to all parties.

My staff has searched; they can find no other State in the Union that was ever asked to effectively pay to gain the lands that were promised them when they joined this Union.

Well, and honor the Supreme Court's decision, but also honor that trust responsibility to our first peoples.

What assurances can you give me that we're going to see some forward motion in this in a positive way?

This is something that isn't setting well with the people in the State of Alaska, and it clearly doesn't set well with me.

This proposal, in my view, is dead on arrival. It's just not going to happen.

You are Alaska's landlord, effectively.

I also want to acknowledge the good work of Deputy Secretary David Hayes, and I share the chairman's appreciation for the work that you have provided for the Department of the Interior under former Secretary Salazar.

That's not acceptable.

The notion that the State must pay for the final lands entitled to it under the statehood act is equally wrongheaded.

The trust responsibility that the Federal Government owes to our first peoples is very important to me.

I must tell you that there are two proposals in this request that are, frankly, an insult to the people of Alaska.

It's good to have you before the subcommittee. This will be, of course, the first of many opportunities to sit down and work together on issues that are clearly important to our Nation, the public lands, clearly important to my State as…

Praxair applauds the work of Chairman Ron Wyden (D-WA) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to introduce this important piece of legislation.

The price is a big deal.

Global shortages that we're anticipating.

So you think that we need to clarify with some language there?

The legislation the Chairman and I have been working on... is one that is good. It is workable.

It's our understanding that there have been some attempts in the past by small, mobile refining interests to gain access to the Federal helium pipeline.

Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Murkowski, thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of Intel and the Semiconductor Industry Association on the 'Helium Stewardship Act of 2013' (S.783).

There may be some interest in adding refining capacity to the pipeline.