Mark Begich

So let me--and I'll summarize and I have a series, but we'll flip back and forth here between the Ranking Member and myself on questions, but let me ask are you then on kind of a Plan B?

Alaska's a little larger in size, but let me follow up.

Alaska, as you know, Dr. Lubchenco, is ground zero for climate change. Change is occurring in the Arctic twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet.

I want to hear more from NOAA about how it plans to deal with the likely gap in weather satellite coverage impacting Alaska and the rest of the Nation.

These are great examples of why the program and the many members that I know within the 8(a) corporations are incredibly successful.

There is no question that there have been challenges in years past on making sure the 8(a) corporations are successful.

It is more important to talk to the people who actually do the business.

I just wanted to make sure you have that kind of on your radar.

That tells me there is a volume issue or staffing issue. We have lots being shipped out.

You get extra points for being there in the winter. That is a plus up.

Again, it is not that they will not necessarily be connected. It is just the speed, and that is the big problem.

I appreciate your being here today.

One of the big issues... is the relationship and confidence in the system.

The veteran population is growing fairly dramatic especially in rural areas.

How would you reach out to the rural communities, especially in getting benefits to the rural homeless that is clearly growing?

A couple of weeks ago I held a meeting with many of the Federal agencies, kind of an interagency group on homelessness.

I think they'll do the right thing at the end of the day, as long as the procedures are, you know, approved.

Thank you. I just want to echo Senator Udall's comments. You have been a great ally for the Alaska Native community.

I appreciate your testimony, because I think many times it's hard for people to understand the value of communication within rural Alaska.

How would you rate the importance of the Universal Service Fund for connectivity and accessibility for the villages?

Without that bandwidth, some of the clinics that are run through your villages will not have access that many of the rural communities or urban communities have; is that a fair statement?

I'm going to focus on Libya, only because that's the conversation.

The simplest thing we could do is just not appropriate it. Because all the contracts say, 'subject to appropriation.'

I'm telling you, it doesn't make sense to me and it doesn't make sense to taxpayers, when I talk to them.

It drives me crazy. Every time--so, we get a project, we--let me finish--we contract, has cost overruns--it's a private contractor we're working with, along with our folks--has cost overruns, not working out like we thought, then we have…