I want you to know, not only my State but other States have issues around this.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the service and the sacrifice, not only as an individual but also as a family.

I am just a little frustrated. I know a lot of you folks are new to the process here. But I am frustrated that we are not--it is one of the largest units, and we can't audit ourselves.

What are you going to do to dramatically change that culture? Are you going to be able to do and have the wherewithal to say to them we are not doing business that way.

Do you have the capacity to get rid of people who are not--it is human nature in any organization change that you are going to have a percentage that will not adapt.

Cuba will not come to the table.

your recommendations and thoughts on that will be critical.

there are certain projects that clearly have social benefits that make them worth investing in, but they're not going to generate a revenue stream.

The appropriate restoration activities that should be undertaken, particularly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but other entities as well, including in the watershed.

the training of policies should include all levels of governments which will help in defining roles and responsibilities should future events occur.

I'll never forget--when I went to one of the centers, the command centers, and it was explained to me that the Coast Guard was in control 51 percent, and BP was in control 49 percent. Well, that doesn't work.

Hearing held on July 20, 2011

I know the legislation, you know, one of the thoughts is try to do an 80-20 split.

I think it would be very interesting as you develop the response to that, or how it comes about.

Thank you for this opportunity to participate in this timely hearing concerning the lessons from the Gulf Oil Spill and how we might do things better.

It's a good question, it's a good point for later down the road, too.

When the well was capped, the people of the Gulf Coast and people across the country... were finally able to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

from my perspective from Alaska, you know, we have small projects that can't compete against these large projects, and we will lose every time.

Yet, capping the Macondo well was not the end of this tragedy.

I think a part of our role should be to assist to make sure their standards equal.

Can you provide that?

I'd make that as a formal request of the Committee, that you could respond to that.

I think the more you can do that, the better.

I think we need to know that because of the work.

In essence, there'll be a gap between the response this year and the impact that may be felt years down the road.