Mark Begich

Implementing the Affordable Care Act eclipsed things.

GE fish is a dangerous short cut that provides only a few modest benefits alongside a host of potential risks.

We do not want to reverse this trend because of another market.

I think it's an important issue.

Even--you don't spend a half million dollars just because people bring up an issue and you want to just do it.

I believe the ban would as Senator Begich suggested, slow down the process to a point whereby more relevant agencies could have an opportunity to enhance the scientific review process.

The reason you've had 16 months of public deliberation on this, at least the information, is because back in August, September of last year, some of us said, 'Pause.'

I'm just saying that if you were sure about the ability to have sterile eggs you're not going to continue to ask for more research.

I am supportive of the concept for holding-at-bay the potential long-term ecological and genetic hazards posed by genetically engineered Atlantic salmon.

We have to manage this in the right way, and I think we have an important role here as the Subcommittee on Oceans, but also as the Commerce Committee in the Senate, to review this issue very carefully.

If we really want more salmon in America, well, then let's not sell 70 percent of our Alaska salmon abroad.

Should we have just said whatever happened down there just happened? No, we looked at the game and reassess what we needed to do.

So it's not a risk assessment.

If I can follow--I want to understand, if you can describe a little bit, is the Panama facility one that is designed specifically for this purpose, or has it been used for something else and you're part of--who owns this facility?

I am therefore fully supportive of Senator Begich's legislation, S. 1717, to ban interstate commerce of genetically engineered salmon.

The real threat to salmon is actually environmental destruction

Senator Begich's legislation, S.1717, to ban interstate commerce of genetically engineered salmon.

The quantity and the quality has increased significantly in how we manage it, how we handle it.

It's not really overfishing. Alaska salmon is certified sustainable

Congress should ensure that the Federal agencies with environmental protection as their core mission... play a substantive role in fully assessing these risks.

Chairman Begich's decision to hold this hearing is a very important step toward achieving a better understanding of the full suite of environmental risks posed by GE salmon.

Demand that the National Marine Fisheries Service and other agencies with expertise in fishery biology play a substantive role in assessing those risks.

Specifically, I have called upon the FDA to halt their approval process until the agency of Congress establishes a transparent and comprehensive review process for genetically engineered animals.

I believe that the US should take a precautionary and sensible approach to GE fish.

The ability to have sustainable food supplies in a broader sense is a national security issue