I do not think we are going to need any assistance with firefighting here in Washington, DC this morning.

I appreciate a desire for consistency and certainty, but you have started your comments out recognizing that there are unique... to a State like Alaska.

It felt a little bit like Groundhog's Day.

Legislation to authorize IHS advance appropriations has been introduced--H.R. 3229 by Representative Young and S. 1570 by Senators Murkowski and Begich.

I voice my strong disagreement with the proposed decreases to the State revolving funds.

But opportunities are tied up because of red tape, whether it is policies coming out of the Federal Government or the impact of the roadless rule.

I have reserved judgment on the potential Pebble Mine waiting for the project developers to present an official plan and then seek the permits for it.

I am not sure we can hold on much longer.

An interpretation that goes a different way could really be a showstopper for us.

What I know is not complete, is that these regulations have not been released, so as Shell is trying to determine how they do proceed, they need some certainty.

This was just yet one more example of how folks in Washington, DC, do not get us.

I would appreciate your support of Sealaska. It was kind of a long and tortured process. I would like to see that through.

So is it not accurate, though, that EPA would still be able to veto the project once details and specifics are actually permitted?

Many of us are very concerned about this, and feel that the effort coming out of EPA is a duplicative effort.

I would like your commitment to continue the practice that we have had over the past couple of years to have your senior folks with operational authority sitting down with my senior advisers in discussing many of these issues.

I think it is something that the administration is going to have to look at in terms of its commitment to working with those who have leases in the Arctic.

your search for viable alternatives is one that has been reviewed for decades now.

This rule could dramatically expand the lands subject to regulation.

Adding insult to injury, the fact that it was delivered the day before Christmas Eve... it ruined the holidays for... the people of King Cove.

Just a question, one question on the King Cove road issue, when you issued your release in December, you stated that the Department's commitment to assist in identifying and evaluating options would improve access to affordable…

I am going to yield to my colleague who also has to go chair another Appropriations Committee hearing.

I think that is very, very inconsistent with, again, this administration's push toward, movement towards renewables.

I want to express my disappointment frankly.

One-fifth the size of the United States of America, a State where... almost the entire State is subject to a wetland determination.

I would ask for a commitment that we would--that you would be able to hold at least one, hopefully more, public events scheduled in the State.