Lisa Murkowski

I appreciate that, and I think we are looking very carefully at what you have been able to actually spend down and where that has gone.

As of yesterday, the Department of Energy Web site showed that we have about $2.1 billion of the stimulus funds that was actually spent.

There is frustration on this side, but I know that there has been frustration on yours as well as to how you make that happen.

I would love to talk to you some more about it.

My take on it was it appeared to present a more centrist, kind of an all-of-the-above approach to the energy policy.

To me it seems like a pretty good investment these days.

I absolutely agree with you.

I am wondering when we might expect to get that rationale. Hopefully, it will be more instructive than just that the President has zeroed it out.

Let me ask you a question, Ms. Hoffman, on the transmission aspect.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Persily, you will recall that it was here in this committee back in 2004 that we worked through, and ultimately passed, the Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2004, and there was a great deal of excitement back home…

I certainly know from his work in Juneau, for both Republican and Democratic administrations, that he is not one to let partisan pressures stand in the way of building the project.

Just last Friday, 1 of the 2 companies working to build the line, the TransCanada-Exxon partnership, announced in its open season application filing that the line was going to cost somewhere between $32 billion and $41 billion to build.

I believe that Larry Persily is an excellent choice to take over the agency that we created in 2004 to coordinate the permitting and the environmental review to help get this pipeline built to move Alaska's natural gas to the markets in…

I would hope that the committee would view Mr. Persily and Ms. Hoffman's nominations with favor and, hopefully, move them expeditiously through the committee.

Which, again, is very important to point out.

In terms of the cost estimates that have been released just last week, the TransCanada-Exxon group came back and indicates that we are looking at a project somewhere between $30 billion and $40 billion.

I think that is an important thing to keep in mind. We always think about those things that we might want to do proactively.

He is exceptionally, exceptionally knowledgeable about the problems that we have confronted in past efforts to get a gas line built in Alaska.

Well, I appreciate that. I know that people like Ms. O'Neill and so many around the Country are anxious to have this resolved favorably and to be able to continue to utilize these efficiencies.

Let me ask you, do you believe that HHS agrees and sees the merit in the efficiencies that we have gained through these 477s?

Thank you for outlining some of the challenges that we face in providing those employment opportunities for Alaska Natives.

And we know those audit findings can be fiscally damaging to the tribes.

I am honored to welcome Gloria O'Neill to the Committee here this afternoon.

I appreciate that assurance.

Well, we appreciate the recognition of the significance of this, the economic devastation, and we'll look forward to working with you on it.