Mary Landrieu

The inland States which I do not, you know, I'm a little jealous actually of what the deal that they were able to get because Wyoming and New Mexico, Senator, your State, as you know, keeps 50 percent of their revenues.

We cannot produce any of these revenues... without streamlined, efficient, best practices permitting.

But 500 jobs and the jobs that are created along the coast do not compensate for the loss of revenues.

I take great interest in the priorities laid out in the budget for several reasons-it directly funds and provides program support for the 5 National Parks, 1,346 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, and 24 National…

I want to focus on the portions of this budget that deal with oil and gas revenues and permitting.

I'm even willing to take a little bit less. I'm willing to be more flexible.

Yet we are struggling here for years trying to get a fair share of that money just to be kept at home along the coast that's producing these revenues.

I'll be working on legislation to address both the short term reauthorization of these programs and long-term funding for counties as well as jobs from increased forest management.

I'm going to be watching this budget very carefully.

The environmental interest is also the people's interest because of what brings... people to the Gulf to enjoy it.

What do we know about what is happening to the Gulf and all that oil that is out there still sloshing around.

The long-term health of not only the Gulf but the waters off of Senator Blumenthal's state.

The 2012 RESTORE Act, which you have heard about from Senator Landrieu so eloquently, provides that 80 percent of civil penalties under the Clean Water Act be returned to the Gulf

If we can do it right and learn how to do it right in the Gulf, in the greatest democracy in the world with the strongest environmental laws and the greatest innovation of our industry, what a blessing this will be to the world.

I look forward to continued work with the Council to ensure that the carefully constructed Congressional compromise is protected and that the law is implemented in the manner that Congress intended.

I am proud to be able to say today that all three financing mechanisms established in the wake of the 2010 oil spill to help restore the coast now have funding in place.

I expect Commerce as Chair of the Council to ensure this Congressionally-crafted balance is not altered or amended through the implementation process.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use these penalty monies to jumpstart some of these very needed restoration projects.

We crafted the RESTORE Act, I think it was, if I can say, it was masterful, the way we tried to balance.

This funding, Senator, will really help us find our way forward, because we have to figure out a way to mine the natural resources that are so important for the economic development and strength of this Nation.

I could not be prouder of the effort that is under way in this committee now to implement an extraordinary, I think, and special piece of legislation.

I hope and expect the chair of the council, which is at Department of Commerce, to ensure this congressionally crafted balance is not altered or amended too much.

Every dollar spent conserving habitat, restoring water quality, protecting coastal and marine resources, and strengthening the community resilience will create jobs and return the investment many times over for generations to come.

The Gulf of Mexico has suffered long enough. The revenues from the spill penalties offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to begin reversing decades' worth of destruction. The country cannot allow this opportunity to be wasted by inadequate…

Well, thank you so much, Chairman Nelson and Ranking Member Wicker. It really is a pleasure and truly an honor to be asked to testify before this important subcommittee.