Today's hearing will look at the relationship between Puerto Rico's political status and the economic challenges they are facing.

The 11 percent cut in Medicare only on the island, that is not an appropriate response to the economic crisis.

Instead of picking on clean renewable energy, which has never cost the taxpayers a dime, we could talk about the actual loss to taxpayers.

It should be the right of any sovereign government to make decisions that are best for their people.

The San Manuel decision was not only a complete reversal of the NLRB's recognition of the tribes as sovereigns, it is also an affront to Indian country.

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act simply reaffirms our sovereign rights, and we urge the committee to pass this legislation.

H.R. 511 simply allows tribal governments to make those decisions.

the fact remains, though, that ongoing and not only in my state but across this country, there is a very fundamental economic problem that families are facing in this country. That is stagnant wages and income inequality across the board.

I mentioned--I asked the question about the subsidy and the income stagnation that we are seeing in reference to Arizona.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Last year, the Natural Resources Committee reported a bill almost identical to this one with only one Democratic Member voting in favor. Dubbed the ``Empty Oceans Act'' by fishermen…

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In addition to more than 100 commercial and recreational fishing groups and related businesses that have all opposed this legislation from the Atlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, the Gulf…