Mark Begich

Like any frontier, the ocean also holds untapped potential.

The reauthorization of the ICOOS Act is essential.

There is strong evidence that the ocean has been changing.

Icebreakers are sorely lacking as well as Coast Guard cutters, aircraft hangars, crew quarters, communication capabilities, deepwater ports and other infrastructure.

Can I get a commitment from you that you will reexamine the decision of the hiring freeze and how they are handling furloughs in the Weather Service?

I want to just say that when you start to talk about Pebble Mine, a mine in Alaska, we would encourage you to talk to us also.

The key to me is as quickly as possible because...

I just make sure that you are committed to looking at this program.

This is not the best way to do it. It is going to have a negative impact on the outcome, the product that we need for situations like in Oklahoma or Sandy and otherwise.

I want to make that clear.

We have been on the forefront of telehealth and many different avenues from health care to mental health.

Why don't we just take the clinic that the VA has, take the space that is beautiful space, put it in there and have a collaborative effort? It is all Federal money.

I would argue that we have the best, if not, the top in the country when it comes to delivery in the most harsh climates, conditions, and situations.

Let me again say thank you for all the work that you guys have done in regards to getting what I called the 'Heroes Card,' but really delivery for health care for veterans no matter where they live, the services they have earned and…

But the bigger issue is we have, as you know, a hospital in Barrow, one being developed in Kenai, Nome is completed, Matsu, a beautiful facility, the whole top floor is empty because they do not have a staffing package.

I appreciate I think the regulatory change you made to eliminate copays on mental health providers on mental health services.

Great. Last question. Just for the record, maybe, if you could get to me, I'd be interested in maybe the last 10 or 15 years on a chart that shows on timber sales the amount of time it takes you from the initial stage to actual in…

Okay. And are you starting to--I'm assuming, I know you don't want to do it too early because school is still in session this session.

Let me also just associate my comments with Senator Murkowski in regard to the secure school funding issue, obviously a big concern there.

I guess I am struggling, and you have to, I guess, give me your thoughts, because you have been around a lot longer than I have, and that is if I had staff members, department heads, telling me they just cannot do this, I would fire them.

You would actually see...the debt ceiling does not have anything to do with limiting spending.

It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen from the real estate business for us as the U.S. Senate to have that as a policy.

In Alaska, we will be utilizing renewable energy at a rate of 50 percent of our use. By 2025, we will be the highest percentage in the country.

We are literally losing villages and will probably be the first refugees because of climate change.

The bottom line is in my State, the environment is changing rapidly. We are at ground zero when it comes to climate change.