Dianne Feinstein

The best rate standard for all radio platforms is fair market value, as you proposed, Madam Chairwoman, in the Perform Act.

As opposed to the webcaster?

That amounts to millions and millions of dollars every year.

Why are we the only industrialized country that does this?

I am concerned that we are the only nation in the industrialized world that does not provide these performance rights.

Thus, isn't it misleading to call this a new tax?

But not the performer.

This lack of a public performance right for sound recordings is a huge international embarrassment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I very much agree with your comments, and I do agree that the time is now and that we need to know what the concerns are.

The way I would like to proceed, ladies and gentlemen, is to ask each witness to confine your opening statement to 5 minutes.

We are the only industrialized nation on Earth that does not provide performers with a full performance right.

I just must tell you--all right. Let me ask you another one.

Let me call for Solomon here.

Judge Chen has been a very fair magistrate judge for 8 years.

He has made a successful transition from a zealous advocate to a balanced and conscientious adjudicator.

I think you are to be complimented on that.

This legislation will help the tribe move one step closer to realizing its legitimate water rights.

For the Tule River Tribe, the concerns of the future have become the reality of today.

Without prudent and expedient consideration of feasibility studies like this one, the situation will only get worse.

California is currently in the third year of a severe drought. Drought is cyclical in our State.

We would be happy to work with California Senators Boxer and Feinstein and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as a whole.

The ``Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2009'' (S. 140) introduced by Senator Feinstein.

We support this bill.

Senator Feinstein's' proposed increase per claim of $300 per year is a certain death to mineral discovery, exploration and development.

We support these provisions.