This is something that is ongoing. We would like to think that years after the tsunami we are not going to be seeing this impact, but we know in Alaska there is still an incredible amount that is out there.

I continue to remain concerned about the environmental impact statement (EIS) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is working on for the Arctic.

Alaskans are very supportive of making sure that we have good, reliable data.

Nearly one out of two women and one out of four men in Alaska have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

One-third of the homes in rural Alaska do not have a flush toilet, do not have running water.

I got my flush toilet today. For eight years we had been working to get Buckland hooked up to water and sewer.

In parts of my State, it is an absolute crisis.

We need to do better. I know that we will.

We must ensure that our policies support the needs of tribal communities.

I think you've done a good job just in terms of outlining some of the things that we hope to work on as a committee from a very broad perspective.

I join my colleague in urging Members to support this amendment. All it does is require labeling of this fish, this fake fish. If you are going to be serving your family a good-quality product, you want to know it is good and it is…

I came to the floor, as Senator Isakson from Georgia and Senator Shaheen from New Hampshire were speaking about the biennial budget amendment and the effort they have undertaken. I just want to acknowledge their leadership on this issue. I…

I have suggested that if you've got a Federal Government that's $16 and a half trillion in debt and we need other ways to find this reliable, steady funding stream that you've talked about, Chief.

I think Senator Baucus doesn't want to be in the position of year after year trying to figure out how we piece this together.

I think there is a real effort to try to figure out a longer term solution and how we might construct that is going to require an effort that is collaborative.

I additionally wish to thank Senator Murkowski for her hard work over the years on SRS and forest health issues.

Overall, we found shortcomings in the areas of oversight, expenditures and administrative requirements.

What we are concerned about is the level at which the program is funded.

I rise today to recognize the winner of the 41st Iditarod race. Mitch Seavey of Seward finished the 998-mile dog sled race in a time of 9 days, 7 hours, 39 minutes, and 56 seconds. This is Mitch's second title and I am happy to…

We all know what it's been.

But the public also needs some jobs or they can't live there.

I think this is critically important for us to look at.

When they don't know where 64 percent of their budget is going to be coming from on a year to year basis, it causes a great deal of stress.

continued appropriations are no more certain for counties than are payments made from commodity receipts.

We recognize the challenges. I would certainly concur with the chairman here, that we need to find longer term solutions so that we don't go from year to year.