My initial concern is the impact to folks in my State could be considerable.

I am not going to see the smart grid implemented in Alaska in quite some time.

from February 12 to February 28, Americans were united in cheering on some of our Nation's most elite athletes as they competed at the 22nd Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I commend all of our athletes for their exemplary performance and…

As the Senate considers Wall Street reform legislation, we know that our legislative actions to regulate over-the-counter derivatives will have consequences for physical energy markets.

I am trying to determine whether or not we really do have a regulatory gap.

I have been amazed for about the past year with the number of people that I have met in this Congress that say that the one thing that they are looking for from the Federal Government is certainty.

You said there is no loophole to close. There is no regulatory gap to plug.

It seems like a lot of funding--a lot of new projects to be taking on at a time when we are looking to really rein in the budget here.

The joke that, 'Congress does cut the red tape, but it cuts it sideways.'

I have been disappointed, with the Department's record, as we understand that DOE has just spent out just over 7 percent of its funding in the past year.

Do we know what 'shortly' is? 'Shortly,' in my mind, is different than the IRS's mind.

If you were held to the fiscal year 2010 funding level of $12 million, how would it impact the operations, the staff level?

Will you take those assessments and analyses into account before you negotiate with----

Are you proposing then that you would scale back on some of these new initiatives, or how are we going to take care of this expense?

Then let me ask about the Center's plans for expanding the exchange program into other countries.

You want to make sure that these not necessarily one-time, but short-term dollars that you had received through ARRA are not going to be a permanent part of your base funding.

Are there any new projects that are on this list? And I really appreciate what you have just run down there because you were really able to give some definition there.

If there are other opportunities to do similar collaborating efforts, I would certainly encourage that.

Is it fair to say then that with continuing education and awareness, we are able to do within our own offices a significant level of compliance just on our own and we are learning so that as the years progress, hopefully, we will be near…

I am trying to understand exactly what the budgetary impact of something like these proposals would actually be and whether or not there will be cost savings if, in fact, these authorities are to be granted.

To what extent are these services actually utilized? Who uses them? Are all of the services necessary?

So then with the $21.6 million that you are now requesting, do you believe that this is going to be sufficient to carry you through 2014?

I would like to know a little bit more about these new initiatives that you are proposing, a little over $16 million for new initiatives beyond the radio project.

I am absolutely behind you when you have suggested that we need to work together to figure out how we can allow for the smooth functioning of the operations that must proceed here but do so in a manner that indicates that we are tightening…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.