I speak today in honor of Brian Schmidt, one of three individuals who were awarded the Nobel Prize for physics this week. Dr. Schmidt, of the Australian National University, along with Dr. Adam Reiss, of Johns Hopkins University, and Dr…

I rise today to thank Senator Bingaman for leading the effort to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Over 100 years ago this Congress passed a law which formed a compact with counties, boroughs and…

I am kind of reaching back to a letter that I had sent to you earlier this year.

We have been waiting and waiting and waiting for resolve of this issue.

the word 'soon' has been used repeatedly for probably at least 4 months now.

I don't know whether it is Mr. Miller that we would need to discuss it with, or if there is someone else on your staff, but it is my understanding that the issue in Juneau has not yet been resolved.

As a State, as a Nation, we have an opportunity within the National Petroleum Reserve to help address some of our Nation's energy needs.

Okay. I think, Mr. Chairman, that is all I have.

I appreciate that commitment. I do recognize that this is imminent, that it should be out very, very quickly.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the hearing and I apologize that I wasn't here for your opening comments.

I do think it is important that we understand how this, through access, we really can make a difference in the lives of so many who choose to live in their homelands and want to remain there.

So you are ensuring that throughout this process, we don't drop the ball in terms of that commitment, then?

In Alaska, we don't have Tribal lands. And I want to make sure that he is talking about the villages in Alaska that have ANCSA lands, they are not Tribal.

the world that is opened up through access to the Internet truly can be transformative when we talk about our economic opportunities.

Without this funding for rural service providers, service rates for our sparsely populated remote areas I think would increase to levels that I don't think would be acceptable.

I am concerned that the FCC is there looking to reform that they have not adequately considered the unique situation that we face up there in Alaska.

The system from Kodiak up around, would be around $400 million to build. But over time, it will save ten times that, or a hundred times that, in costs to the Federal Government and the State government.

Clearly has stepped it up, if you will.

I think we all, as policymakers, need to be careful about not only the language that we use but how we describe certain processes because I think it does cause unnecessary alarm or concern.

But just from a practical perspective, wouldn't it make sense to determine first whether or not the States are doing an adequate job in terms of the regulation?

Natural gas is clean-burning and abundant. It's well understood. It's scalable.

It would certainly seem to make sense that there be some level coordination, or at least sharing of the information there between EPA, you and the BLM.

I think it should be more appropriate that we discuss when and how to develop this incredible national resource.

For years we have been saying that oil production in Alaska is the gold standard, but our faith has been shattered.

I find it both misguided and, as an Alaskan, somewhat insulting when the Federal agencies continue to look for ways to lock up additional wilderness in Alaska when Alaska doesn't want it.