First, I want to say thank you for recognizing Alaska is unique, and we had a conversation about universal service.

We have a lot of concern to make sure the development is done right.

We can't even get to the table to figure out, as Senator Hutchison just described, how to map out what we have there.

I will tell you what happened. I was invited to a meeting when I was Mayor and it was about a land use issue.

Let me ask you, and again, I thank you for when you came to my office a couple months ago.

The years that we have delayed the process is way too long.

I ask unanimous consent for an additional 3 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

To the Senator from Louisiana, let me say, when you describe the moratorium or whatever they call it in the gulf, it is even worse in the Arctic, or even on, as I mentioned when I had the map and I showed the National Petroleum Reserve…

I say to my friend from Oklahoma, absolutely, I am aware of the quantity and value of Alaska oil and gas today. I rise to discuss this issue, as well as a few others related to the issues of oil and gas. I rise to discuss an issue foremost…

Too many projects are caught up in what I call the ``regulatory whack-a-mole.'' You think you have smacked down one regulatory hurdle and another one pops up. My bill would give authority to work across the agencies causing companies so…

That is a hard one to answer because they see the oil flowing. As I mentioned, we have $10-a-gallon gas in some of our communities--$10 a gallon. So it is hard to explain that, yes, we are the big producer, but the rest of the country then…

If I can make one last comment, the chart that you have up there, there is one other piece on there. It is the Alaska oil pipeline. We are at a little over 600,000 barrels a day going through there. We are losing 6 to 7 percent a year in…

today I rise to introduce legislation to amend title 38, related to this Nation's obligation to provide benefits to our veterans. Specifically, the bill I introduce today with my distinguished colleagues, Senator Grassley of Iowa and…

I know what we'd like to do, it seems, in the federal government, as I've learned now, is always get the big pitch, try to do it all at once, and do everything, which is disastrous.

But, that will never happen, because of states' rights, and many other things.

--I wish to speak about legislation I am introducing today aimed at streamlining a cumbersome development process for offshore oil and gas development adjacent to Alaska. About a month ago, President Obama proposed essentially that when he…

I was not one of those that supported your appointment, but I am actually very impressed with the conversation today.

I do not want you to raise the requirement. I just want to get equal treatment.

Thank you very much. Thanks for being here.

the legal catches by Russia on crab, for example, was probably, in the last 10 years, costs Alaska fishermen over a half a billion, $500 million over the last 10 years.

I would argue the core mission or one of the core missions of your office is this data.

As you know, American Indians serve in our Armed Forces in greater numbers than any other ethnic group, proportionally.

This legislation is likely budget neutral.

Are there additional resources or legislative action or work with other departments, especially on the international waters, that we need to be doing?

FRA supports legislation sponsored by Sen. Mark Begich entitled 'The Servicemembers Permanent Change of Station Relief Act' (S. 472)