Lisa Murkowski

If we could only get to a place like that, it would give us so much more hope as an Arctic nation.

I would be curious to know whether or not you think it would have an impact and if so, how it might impact Alaska Tribes.

I think it is important for those within the Department of Education to be looking to see if perhaps we are not getting fully accurate data because you have cultural issues that present themselves.

I would appreciate it if you could look into it because if we are going to be relying on data, we need to know that the data that has been collected is sufficient upon which to base some decision.

He says it doesn't provide him with the reliable information because, in his opinion, there was cultural bias that was inherent in that test.

The government can accelerate and spread the efficiency revolution, making it an engine for American competitiveness and job creation.

If you don't have law enforcement there, it's pretty easy to move things through, regardless of what it is.

Secretary Clinton has been very active, very engaged, in the Pacific and working to enhance and build on those relationships that we have in the Asia-Pacific region.

I think it is important to recognize that others are watching what direction the United States will take with this agreement.

I join the chairman in encouraging you within the department to look critically at how we find the appropriate offset, and, as we mentioned, one that is politically viable, politically achievable.

Can you give me any more information about what type of transnational crime we're beginning to see in the region?

Whether it is from a national security perspective, whether it is just from the perspective of keeping the commitment that we have made to the people of Palau, we need to make sure that we're able to honor this.

It is somewhat sobering to hear that those might be the conditions attached.

I just want to follow on this conversation here.

I was pleased to join with you in introducing legislation to approve the agreement between the governments of the United States and the Republic of Palau following the Compact of Free Association Review.

Thank you very much for your excellent testimony.

I do appreciate you holding this hearing on an issue of importance not just to this committee, but to the national security of the United States as a whole.

I do include--we include the component about risk to supply and the disruption.

Of course the question is is how are we defining critical?

Is this something that the Administration would support? Is this a good idea? Bad idea?

I would ask you to commit to working more collaboratively on this next report that's coming out.

We're dead last when it comes to this permitting process and how long it takes, anywhere from 7 to 10 years.

We've got to work on the efficiency side.

The U.S. ranks dead last in the world in terms of the amount of time it takes to get to a yes or no answer to permit applicants.

Minerals are the building blocks of our nation's economy.