The value of our oil and gas reserves, and particularly our yet untapped reserves, is really a game-changer for the nation.

President Obama supported my push to start utilizing Alaska resources to support America's energy needs.

What I hope is, as we move forward on oil and gas issues, that kind of opens up the discussion on many other fronts.

I am one of those believers that think we need to have a controlled environment.

Unless everybody is successful in this operation, none of us will be successful, and that success has to extend to economic justice inside the communities as well.

I hope they do--the Law of the Sea treaty, Alaska's extended continental shelf could grow in area by twice the size of California.

The Coast Guard I think issued their Certificate of Inspection on the Arctic Challenger today or yesterday.

This is a timely hearing, and I'd echo what Deputy Secretary Hayes said, that there are a lot of lessons learned.

Such an office was proposed in legislation that Senator Begich and Senator Murkowski introduced recently.

I appreciate this panel for their recommendations from a community perspective.

I agree with what everyone said in regards to revenue sharing. That is a critical piece.

I also agree with you on the Law of the Sea. This is a critical piece, for us to understand our own sovereignty.

Will you have a presentation at some point, or maybe we can encourage it, something that occurs that says, OK, if we had XYZ additional, it would help us...

I just saw a great programming that KIC is doing, and it's exactly what you just described.

I wish to recognize three outstanding Alaskans who won in the 2012 U.S. Olympics and Paralympics: Ms. Janay DeLouch who calls Eielson Air Force Base home, Ms. Shirley Reilly who hails from Barrow, and Mr. Seth McBride from Juneau. I am…

I wish to recognize Julie Hasquet, my longtime press secretary and dedicated staff members, whose way with words, quick wit, and sharp pen has served me and the people of Alaska very well for over 9 years. Julie had a tall task working for…

I wish to recognize the Honor Flight Network and the four Alaskan World War II veterans who are participating in this year's flight: Robert J. Ingram, a veteran of the Navy from Fairbanks; and Louis E. Fessler, a veteran of the Army, Marc…

Congress should not enact any legislation that would grant State governments the authority to impose any new burdensome or unfair tax collecting requirements on small online businesses and entrepreneurs, which would ultimately hurt the…

I think there is a basic fairness issue here of how do you ensure that if you're a retailer... you're paying for the roads and everything else that goes along with it.

Great. And the reason I say this--when I was mayor, we changed the law, because we used to tax everybody's inventory.

As a Senator of a rural state, I am truly amazed by the new opportunities Alaska businesses are able to enjoy through the use of the Internet.

It's like my son just got--he's 10. I forget what it's called, but the little piece that you can hook up to your iPad and Visa.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 25, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 25, 2012, at 10 a.m. in room SD-406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 25, 2012, at 10 a.m. in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Education Tax…