Lisa Murkowski

I can't buy them anymore. Does that mean that I have been denied the choice?

Do we say that our choice is restricted or limited?

It's interesting listening to the discussions going back and forth and whether or not we have choice in what we put in our home.

Of course as you know the concern out there is that you're going to have Department of Energy come knocking on your door...

In the process of implementation of a standard, how long does something like this take?

Do we have any idea then as to the cost that would be associated as you try to implement the standards over a several year process?

The implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements, which I have co-sponsored with you, Mr. Chairman, notably contains important new standards for outdoor lighting, furnaces and air conditioners.

I think it would be, particularly at a time when we're all focused on what's going on with cost...

We thank Senators Bingaman and Murkowski for introducing this bill and also thank Senator Lugar who played a key role in advancing last year's version of this bill.

So do we just abandon what you have been putting in place with the rulemaking?

I urge the Congress to provide the full President's budget amount for LWCF so that this important project can receive this needed funding.

This is an asset that's going to be necessary as we deal with the fires, whether they're up in my State or out in Senator Tester's part of the country.

So the glass is getting emptier.

But, unfortunately, we're seeing--many of those who have been willing to collaborate and sit around the table at the Tongass Futures Roundtable, they're peeling off of that.

We know that it's going to be expensive to replace them, but we also know that we have to have them.

I feel pretty discouraged. That's why I started off my comments today asking if your folks would be willing to sit down with the people in Wrangell to talk about a local plan there.

I think we recognize that when we're dealing with these tough budgets, some of these line items are going to raise some eyebrows.

But, in fact, with the proposals and what has been advanced by the USFS and the others, if somebody decides to sue on this, there is nothing that provides protection from further suits.

Well, the one thing that would preclude them is if it's not possible to gain access to them.

We felt by going with this list, this gave us the best chance to be able to reach an agreement.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I do hope to hear from you today some concrete actions that USFS plans to take in response to the litigation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was petitioned to pre-emptively veto development in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska.

One of the areas where Alaskans have benefited from the EPA and their programs has been the Alaska Native Villages Program.

I've been very critical of the EPA throughout this hearing, but I was raised by a mother who is very generous.