my colleague Senator Jim Risch joins me today in congratulating fellow Idahoan Kristin Armstrong, who won her second consecutive gold medal in the Olympic cycling time trial. Kristin's perseverance and drive is an inspiration. In the 2008…

I think it is important for us to focus on the kind of regulatory activity that the Department can bring.

I am not aware of any plans for a statement of an Administration position on that bill at this time.

It is critical that we support a regulatory framework that is risk based and further grounded in peer reviewed science.

The Administration has not convened such a group.

The EPA, nor the Administration, has not taken a position on Senator Lautenberg's bill.

So, what, I guess what I am trying to get at is what do we need to do statutorily to fix that problem?

TSCA Section 7 provides EPA the authority to regulate imminent hazards caused by chemical substances.

But you had no authority to obtain that information?

I appreciate you and Senator Lautenberg for scheduling today's hearing on EPA's authorities and actions for controlling exposures to toxic chemicals generally and to flame retardants specifically.

There is substantive proof that flame retardants are effective in saving lives by delaying the spreading of fire and allowing people additional time to escape injury.

Recently I offered an amendment with Senator Johanns to fulfill Congressional intent by providing an explicit exemption for margin requirements for non-financial end-users that qualify for the clearing exemption.

According to the proposed rule, the proposal to require margins stems directly from what they view to be a legal obligation under Title VII.

I rise today to support and underscore the points just made by Senator Enzi in support of the U.S. Sugar Program, which, as he indicated, has operated successfully at no cost to the American taxpayers, consumers, or food manufacturers. As…

I thank Senator Carper for scheduling this hearing on the recommendations stemming from the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future.

I support this review and urge that defense waste removal remain a top priority within the Department of Energy.

It is critically important that the Federal Government not lose sight of its commitment to remove defense waste in accordance with established agreements with Idaho and other States by 2035.

I continue to support Yucca Mountain as the legally mandated, permanent geologic repository for both defense and civilian high level waste.

I strongly agree with the tenor of the questions that we heard from Senator Corker and Senator Warner with regard to the Volcker Rule.

I am very concerned about how we are moving forward in the regulatory climate right now with regard to the response to things like the JPMorgan issues and others.

I encourage you to get it right and focus on these concerns about the accuracy of the current exposure method.

I want to commend him for his leadership both to the Tribe and to the State of Idaho and, frankly, to the Nation as his presence here indicates.

Throughout my time in the Senate, I have had the extraordinary opportunity to work with Vice Chairman Baptiste on many pertinent issues that directly affect the Federal trust responsibility.

I appreciate the efforts by our Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, and by the ranking member of our Senate Budget Committee, Jeff Sessions, to give the Senate a chance today to do its job. It has been more than 3 years since the Senate…

I appreciate your leadership and the leadership of Senator Barrasso.