I am looking to the two Members here who are going to do the markup with the other Members sitting here, this is going to be an insistent theme on my part.

I have seen a lot of people lose offices because of ethical issues, but you are right, journalists add to it.

Thank you very much.

when I hear the word 'fair' system, usually that means, to be very frank with you, Alaska gets kind of left out

I am pleased to speak on amendment No. 1114 to S.1867, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Snowe, Casey, Leahy, Graham, Murkowski, Akaka, Pryor, Brown of Massachusetts…

today I am pleased to speak about my amendment No. 1149. I would like to thank my cosponsor, Senator Murkowski, for her work on this amendment. This amendment is very simple. It authorizes the Air Force to enter into a land exchange and…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To authorize a land conveyance and exchange at Joint Base…

I ask unanimous consent that the current amendment be set aside for one more. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Begich] proposes…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space…

I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside so I may call up amendment No. 1114. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alaska…

I think nationally almost 100,000 jobs this last year in 2011 were added in the tourism industry, which is a good thing.

For Alaska, it's a $2 billion industry with about 40,000 people employed in it in this last year.

the tourism industry, especially with our foreign travelers, is not just about the economic opportunity.

the Federal Government has a bad habit of let's make everything national and all will work out for the best, and usually it doesn't because they don't recognize the regional differences and the uniqueness of certain areas.

We have supported a national climate service. We think there's value in coordinating and centralizing this information and disseminating it.

I just have two quick questions, and one, just to make sure, Mr. Marshall, only because, being parochial here for a moment, Mesonet, is it connected to Alaska or not?

I think it was 60 percent or somewhere in that area if I remember right, a pretty high percentage said yes.

I know you have good morning ratings. Put us on there, things will go the other way.

Thank you very much.

While the phrase 'climate change' is always controversial, we in Alaska are already living the effects.

about 61 percent thought that having a single source for climate data would be useful.

Chairman Begich described the severe storm that Alaska just last week saw its coast buffeted by.

Is that something that could be mitigated you feel?

OK. Well, we look forward to that, if you can get that data, so we can do some additional follow-through on this part of the Committee.

Today's hearing is meant to provide oversight of these two important functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.