It's my understanding that NEPA does require that the Department analyze all reasonable alternatives for ANWR.

I would commend that to you for your review.

I know that it's a tricky issue in terms of Federal revenues going here and then, you know, what to use to support the Federal Government.

Knowing that you're all looking at that is important.

Dear Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Murkowski:

We've all been talking about the FLAME Act and how it hasn't been working as we had intended.

Isn't it the situation though that you have different fires that require different types of suppression and clearly different types of aviation assets?

I think one of the reasons is that there are still some outstanding questions on where we make the difference here.

I am encouraged by the announcement last month by the Forest Service of 5 new 'Next Generation' air tankers contracts that are pending.

It's a priority. Secretary Jewell has described the condition of our Western forests as a tinder box.

I mentioned to the Chairman that one thing we seem to have a problem with here in the Congress, is being proactive when it comes to any form of prevention.

This is a significant departure then from what appears to be the consensus in the direction that we're taking.

But it seems to me that when you take the money from the program, you would reduce the number of fires you're going to have to deal with.

It's time for the Office of Management and Budget to actually implement this law as intended.

When one of these conflagrations rips through a community, nobody is sitting around talking about Democrats and Republicans.

I think our priorities are out of whack.

I think we've also got to deliver the same kind of wake-up call on this question of a new focus on prevention.

I rise to recognize the importance of Memorial Day, a day that means so much to me, the Nation, and those I represent in Alaska. For many Alaskans, Memorial Day means the unofficial beginning of summer, sunlight, and enjoying the great…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just very briefly.

I want to be clear. I do support the agency's many programs that deal with recreation and with wildlife.

When you're to provide for a level of tourism, when you can't take the tourists who are coming off the cruise ship out to do a quick floatplane trip, land in one of the lakes in Misty Fjords or Traitors Cove, it's kind of tough.

I just can't go back to the superintendent of the schools in Wrangell, Alaska, because for him, these few thousands of dollars mean everything to him and his budget.

I hope today that you can give me a reason to believe that we're not going to be sitting here again next year.

I have questioned that at a time where budgets are very, very tight, we would be purchasing more land when we're not able to adequately care for, maintain, provide the resources for what it is that we have.

I do support the agency's many programs that deal with recreation and with wildlife.