Mike Simpson

Do you make a recommendation in that regard?

After analyzing how this is proposed to occur, I was disappointed that Mission Innovation favors the EERE account when compared to other energy technologies.

Mr. Fleischmann, I know the programs feel that the new organization, if you like, kind of better aligns what they are trying to do.

I have seen too many times the Department head down a road over the years and get halfway down that road and find a fork and decide it doesn't want to go.

What I would need to see, frankly, is a signed agreement with Russia that this is going to be okay, because I want to know what I am getting into.

I don't see a lot of excitement in the State of New Mexico, in listening to their Senators.

The reason I ask that is, have the Russians agreed to this in more than just 'Yeah, we think we could probably go along with that'?

Let me tell you, contrary to popular belief, that the reason Congress has concern about the dilute and dispose alternative is not because of our concern about the South Carolina delegation.

This budget request does not make the necessary investments in achieving that goal.

You have ignored congressional direction in favor of the priorities set by extreme environmental groups and the EPA.

The administration's war on coal has left 10,000 coal miners in my district laid off.

Their actions suggest that their true intention is to keep coal in the ground, and they do so at a very high cost.

Why is the administration committed to leaving that power in the ground?

We ought to look at that whole program.

I would encourage you and your office to work with the State of Idaho and with our office in developing some plans that might work.

I would encourage the Administration to give us something along those lines that we could look at with Resources Committee.

As far as the proposed increase that both you and the Forest Service have, the $2.50 administration fee for AUM, and the potential fee to go up the maximum of 25 percent, that has been proposed before, and the committee has rejected it.

I have got county commissioners and so forth and some ranchers that have said that they are going to lose 40 or 50 percent of their grazing lands, with this sage-grouse proposal.

Thank you. Let me talk for just a minute about Sage-grouse and focal areas because as I talked to governors...

I understand that. I mean, wild horses and burros, that has been a problem forever.

I just want to say thank you in your role as chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee for the additional drought funding for the Bureau of Reclamation.

What we are trying to say is listen, it has worked for wolves. It has done its job.

I would hope that the Department would support what this committee has been trying to do, and that is implement the Fish and Wildlife's decision on wolves in the Great Lakes and Wyoming.

Now, the saying is 'Do not get sick after September.' We are moving along in the right direction.

There used to be a saying around here 5, or 6, 7 or 8 years ago in Indian Country, 'Do not get sick after June because all the money ran out.'