Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

What these bills at their heart attempt to resolve is issues with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that this Congress passed some 38 years ago.

The difficulty is in managing those expectations.

In fact, it is probably more environmentally balanced than if you were to select within the box.

Let me ask you that, Mr. Claus, because it appears that SEACC is taking a position in opposition of these Native sacred sites. Is that correct?

I appreciate you saying that.

I recognize your point, but I think we also understand that moving to this second growth transition, the proposal that Sealaska has advanced is one that, lays out how they accomplish that transition there.

I will be working with Senator Wyden, Senator Barrasso, and Senator Bingaman to ensure that we are able to reach a resolution.

To my knowledge, there's no opposition to the Bering Straits land conveyance bill.

I appreciate the hearing this morning and I want to thank our nominees for their willingness to serve.

I have heard nothing but statements of goodwill about working towards final resolution and it is certainly my intention to push us all in that direction so that we do have a final, expeditious result and it is one that has a level of…

if you're going to accelerate you need the funding. But you need to ask for it.

I have a whole series of questions, but I don't want Mr. Claus to feel like I'm not giving equal time.

I think it was extremely helpful in just laying out why we are here.

It seems to me that the appropriate response here is to say that we've got to do more within the budget to allow for these conveyances to move forward.

No wonder the people I talk to back home are just scratching their head saying, so tell me what is it that is contained in this House bill and how it works?

Make no mistake. Cap and trade is an anti-growth proposal that will hurt American industries and American families more than it will help them.

Our difficulties when we put in place a new system, a new regime, it's a new system.

Today it's become even more important to control the cost of climate legislation. We've got millions of Americans that are struggling to find work, to pay mortgages and getting through a rough economy.

As I've been talking to people back in my State and they bring up the issue of climate change and the cost and it always comes down to what it is going to cost.

At a time when our country is struggling to come out of our longest and deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, enacting a regressive energy tax is reckless and irresponsible.

Our goal should be good policy, not politics.

We should be honest about what a cap-and-trade program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will do.

25% renewable, 75% conventional but 100% affordable.

This is about Alaskans owning the plan and wanting to go down the path.