Just like every other member of this committee, I'm concerned about our Federal spending, I'm concerned about the debt, I'm concerned about the deficit.

I think it is appropriate that our first official hearing today is with Secretary Chu regarding the Department of Energy proposed budget.

I was pleased to see that DOE's budget proposal increased funding for biomass and biorefinery systems.

Using a more efficient internal combustion engine, in the short term, can help us reduce our dependence on oil and lessen our carbon emissions faster than waiting for electric vehicle technology to become accessible to the average consumer.

I come to the Senate floor today to discuss an issue of great importance to small businesses, the drivers of this Nation's economy. In the same way the interstate highway system and the railroads revolutionized transport, connecting main…

This is a real problem.

Economically, the Gulf Coast continues to be hit hard by all of this, and it is not the spill directly, it is the de facto moratorium which continues.

We welcome the opportunity to continue to work together with BP and the Gulf Coast Restoration Organization.

And as you all know, we are drafting a piece of legislation to address some of these issues for future events.

We do need--I know you postponed some things, but this February 2 announcement, of course, is an important one.

Thank you, Senator Landrieu, for calling this hearing and special thanks for your staff for inviting me today.

In the 5 months that BP managed this claims process... they only distributed $359 million Gulf-wide.

Wrap up, if you can.

We should pay subsistence claims, fund food banks, and streamline the Food Stamp application to the two-page Disaster Food Stamp Form to alleviate food insecurity.

Senator Landrieu advised me to do this 3 months ago.

We have had eight straight months of increasing unemployment. That is a direct result of the drilling moratorium.

BP was not under any legal obligation to set up any fund of relief for rig workers put out of work because of the moratorium.

the law is deficient and can be and hopefully will be corrected so that the next time there is an environmental spill ... the polluter, the violator in this case be held accountable.

And so do we know where the other non----

And was that agreed to between SAMHSA and the States, that you all would do all of the identification and reporting so that they could use 100 percent of their money for treatment?

there is no law requiring them to contribute in any way to social services, mental health.

That is an excellent question, and first of all, thank you for your testimony, Mr. Nguyen. We really appreciate it.

The damages caused by the oil spill could last years.

It has been 9 months since the oil spill. Fifty-seven percent of claims in my State of Alabama remain unpaid.

But do these employees in some of these law firms that have been, although they are not there for legal purposes but for advocacy purposes, do they have access to the database?