Mark Begich actually said...

"We do not have the funds to mount a cleanup, especially in areas as remote as Alaska or some of the northwestern Hawaiian islands."

"The impact of marine debris is significant and requires our immediate attention."

"Since the event, NOAA's Marine Debris Program has closely monitored the incoming tides of debris."

"If Homeland Security and the military did not know the ship was this close to the United States and it was just floating unmanned--I doubt they did not know this."