John Kerry

I have a lot of faith in the Coast Guard, and I have a lot of faith in NOAA.

My question is--you know, lists and prior, sort of, plans are one thing.

It's my understanding we've never used it underwater in the way that we've used it now.

I understand that the--one--the principal dispersant chosen is COREXIT.

But Mr. Chairman, one point about which I feel very strongly, is that no matter what BP does, no matter what any oil company does, so long as we're dependent on fossil fuels for the bulk of our energy needs, we're in danger.

Is it more toxic than other alternatives?

It's just unrealistic for anybody to assume that suddenly drilling is going to stop.

I was stunned to hear some say the spill made passing energy independence legislation this year more difficult. Nothing should be further from the truth.

It will be up to this committee to exercise oversight and ask tough questions to find out whether other changes are required as well.

We all have very significant concerns about what went wrong on board Deepwater Horizon.

This disaster ought to force Congress and the Administration to revisit our existing laws governing liability, safety, permitting, preparedness, and environmental review when it comes to offshore exploration.

The President has already made it clear that change is needed, at the agency level.

This afternoon Senator Lieberman and I are going to be rolling out something called the American Power Act

I've expressed concern at different times, including during the runup to last month's election, that the administration has not spoken out more forcefully about the abuses by the NCP.

We must do all we can to ensure that the referendum is held on time, and that it is held fairly and peacefully.

We must ensure that the southerners and residents of Abyei get an opportunity to vote in the referenda.

It's imperative that the international community work now to ensure that the Government of Southern Sudan has the increased capacity to govern effectively.

If the referendum does not take place on time, then the renewal of a war that claimed 2 million lives becomes a tragic possibility.

This is, I think, by most people's perception, a critical moment for Sudan.

Every credible poll predicts that the outcome will be a vote for separation.

Although the outcome in military terms was never in doubt, our Marines and their NATO and Afghan partners performed heroically.

General McChrystal has emphasized the importance of a counterinsurgency strategy that prioritizes protecting the Afghan people over killing the enemy.

Today, it has become the leading edge of the administration's new strategy; though by the administration's own acknowledgement, it's really a testing ground.

I'm the Senior Civilian Representative in southern Afghanistan. I have the authority of the Chief of Mission in the South.

The U.S. Government added 38,000 troops last spring.