the expertise and the experience lies with the States. States have been doing this for many years, and doing a very good job.

Government does have to step in, but only as a last resort, not because some agency or some bureau feels like--some service feels like--'Hey, we don't have enough to do...'

horizontal drilling from private lands to access oil and gas under a refuge should not fall under the Service's jurisdiction.

I would rather have it in the hands of Louisiana, rather than blanket regulations across the United States by the Service.

any new Federal regulations must recognize that States are already regulating development, and should have primacy over these oil and gas wells within the refuge system.

When you have a government that wants to function in a dictatorial way... then we are no longer a country of democracy.

Today the subcommittee will examine the Fish and Wildlife Service's recent efforts to further regulate oil and gas activities within the National Refuge System.

So it just seems to me that we are only adding just yet another layer of regulatory bureaucracy to the one that we already have.

the ability to address problems is far easier done at the State capital than here, in Washington.

We believe it is for Congress, not DOI, to weigh the needs of the refuge lands and interests of mineral owners.

Louisiana is one of the best States when it comes to regulations.

Every addicting substance is a gateway drug to another addicting substance. Marijuana is not excluded.

I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, today for allowing me to sit in on this and other members of this committee.

Children who are exposed to such addicting substances prior to age 15 have a five times greater risk of future addiction than those who are not.

The most common diagnosis for young people admitted to rehab centers today is for marijuana addiction.

Marijuana is an addicting substance. Again, there's a myth out there that it's not.

Today, in this very interesting discussion, I am talking on this subject coming from the perspective of a physician and a military veteran himself, someone who is very acquainted with addiction disorders, someone who has been a medical…

The Service must not establish unreasonable new fees that would have the effect of denying access to non-Federal minerals legally owned by both large and small energy companies.

It is essential that the Service make it crystal clear that it will honor the private property rights of subsurface mineral owners.

Any new Federal regulations must recognize that States are already regulating development, and should have primacy over these oil and gas wells within the refuge system.

While no one should be surprised that this Administration wants more Federal restrictions on our energy industry, it is disappointing that the Fish and Wildlife Service didn't fully implement GAO's recommendations on staffing, data…

The Service should not duplicate functions already conducted by the States.

It looks like it is that way here.

Today the subcommittee will hear testimony on three pieces of legislation...

People should not be prosecuted if the law on which you are being prosecuted has been repealed by that government.