Clearly, the Department of Energy had a substandard operation when it came to implementing this compensation program.

The numbers and the statistics, they are not acceptable. They do not work.

Well, I am looking at the language that was pulled from the MOU and the language as I am reading provides that: 'Provided that, consistent with subpart D, such a determination will prevent DOE and may prevent a DOE contractor from…

Well, if there is not, I would certainly hope we are not leading people down a path that is obviously very difficult...

Do you have, does DOE have, a specific individual who Alaskans can contact to determine the status of their claims and get other questions answered?

I was assured [by DOE] that the contractor would be notified and asked to accept primary liability for my claim and would also be asked not to raise any affirmative defenses in my case.

This is simply unacceptable. Let me repeat--this is unacceptable.

In many cases we have had Alaskans dying while waiting for their claims to be resolved.

I hope that the committee is beginning to understand the frustration I've experienced.

the importance of this issue led me to co-sponsor the Grassley-Murkowski amendment.

I might suggest that I do not believe it was Congress's intent that we just run people through a bureaucratic nightmare just so that they can say we processed their claims.

U. S. Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young from Alaska have both asked Secretary Abraham to resolve the willing payor issue.