Mark Begich

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

Let me ask on one issue I am concerned about and that is one of the parts of the debris is a sizable amount.

As I understand the current Act, we do not have the authority to actually do the cleanup.

The role of the Federal Government in emergencies is to assist states, not just say it is your responsibility, good luck, because that is not acceptable.

This Senator is going to continue to push until NOAA responds in the appropriate way of giving our coastal communities the answers that they deserve.

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.

How do you respond to that? And maybe you cannot.

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.

However, the reality is that given Alaska's geography, distance from the lower 48, and the very remote locations of small rural communities...

Some Alaskan communities, including the entire island of Adak are on the brink of disaster because of the sever USF funding cuts established in your reform order.

Is there a way, especially for very small carriers, because the waiver process cost is the same.

We need some ability, because at the end of the year, they will not be able to pay their RUS loans, and they will be out of business.

I want to thank you for working with me during the FCC's recent efforts to reform the Universal Service Fund.

I support the Coast Guard Authorization Act (S. 1665) that increases Coast Guard end strength to 49,350.

I think that is the point that the Chairman and Senator Collins brought up, how some of these contractors get to come back for repeat business and rip off this government in the 'gabillions.'

What we see unfolding is a slow-motion environmental disaster that will far exceed any single pollution event to hit the west coast of North America, including the Exxon Valdez and Santa Barbara oil spills.

Since it was created in 1934 the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been one of the most successful conservation tools in history.

Thank you, Chairman Cardin, and also the other members that are here for holding this hearing today.

Some of those ships will be refurbished and some of the work that is being done is out of the Port of Seattle and Tacoma and that region. It is a nationwide aspect. Think about this. In 2011, the oil and gas industry produced 9 percent of…

Well, absolutely. As a matter of fact, as we know, this line--this is the pipeline that brings resources from here down to Valdez and ships it throughout the country and the world. It is about 10 percent of the oil for our country that…

If I can make a comment that the Senator just christened one of our new ships coming up. It has Icebreaker capacity to work for Shell to do what? Go right here.

I would like to enter into a colloquy with my colleague from Louisiana. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Udall of Colorado). Without objection, it is so ordered. Energy Planning

Outreach to the specific tribes is going to be an area of focus.

I just wanted to really kind of put on the record the issues around tribal issues.