Ed Markey

Do you support the continued complete independence of this office?

The document actually said that the Office of Investigations couldn't do the same work, it said it couldn't have the same resources, it said that the General Counsel had to direct every action that was going to be taken.

Again, you are in violation of the law if you do not provide that information to the committee.

I think that is very important for us to have on the record because clearly this is becoming a more and more costly enterprise for the Federal Government.

We have a copy of a draft proposal that would limit the resources.

Should it be able, Commissioner, to do whatever investigations it deems to be appropriate?

Will you provide the non-public documents to me, to the committee, so that we can examine them?

Last year, last year language I authored was enacted to require NRC to provide non-public documents to Congress...

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Does each of you agree that it should maintain its independence?

That is just unacceptable.

I would strongly recommend to you that you get that resolved before it comes up to the Commission.

Why don't I let the others mention it? I asked a general question. I will go with you first, Commissioner Baran.

Should it have to report to the General Counsel during the course of an investigation?

I recently wrote a letter to the NRC about my concerns that the independence of this office was being eroded.

Again, do any of you disagree that prevention and response is better than just response?

You should just err on the side of safety, Mr. Friedman.

I don't accept the fact that there is no risk in really warm weather in Arizona or other states.

There is just one problem with the explanation.

So this goes back to Senator Heller's question, and others, about the safety of families driving these vehicles.

I don't think it makes any sense for a passenger-side airbag recall not to occur.

So, Mr. Schostek, which of those three options is it?

So, again, if that is the case, then why not have a similar letter go from every other manufacturer to warn people of a potential passenger-side airbag catastrophe?

And, finally, if I can, Toyota believes that its passenger-side airbags being driven in some humid states are so dangerous that it told dealers to disable them and warned passengers not to sit in the passenger seats.

It could be a used car that is sold and just taken to another state.