Clearly, our first priority right now is to clean up and mitigate the damage that has already been caused and to find out what happened in the Gulf of Mexico and to learn from this.

Was the report Friday accurate that MMS has granted another environmental exception for a Deepwater Horizon that will be 4,000 feet deep?

I just urge you to let us know if you need additional tools from Congress in order to be able to deal with the scientific information necessary.

Are you seeking further environmental waivers at this point?

It is important that accurate information is made available about the potential risk, about the potential environmental damages, and the capacity to respond to that.

Because my point and the question I would at least put for the record is that the oyster issue is a very sensitive issue for all of us because we are doing everything we can to get the oyster back.

if you feel you need additional resources or authorities, we would be only too delighted to hear from you

In the event of such accidental release, water quality would be temporarily affected by dissolved components and small droplets.

What I find surprising is that the Gulf of Mexico spill if it lasts for another month, it will surpass Exxon Valdez.

When you represent the State of Rhode Island or the State of Maryland, you understand how important our oceans are.

I strongly support EPA using the authorities it has under both the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act to deal with the pollutants entering our ocean and the impact it has on not only the environment, but I think public safety and public…

I do not know how you could accurately portray to the regulatory agency the minimal risks in the event of a blowout.

the Cardin-Grassley amendment extends whistleblower protections to employees of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, NRSROs. NRSROs are the companies-- such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's--which issue credit ratings…

first, let me thank Senator Dodd for bringing forward a strong bill to regulate Wall Street. The bill provides for strict new regulations to stop Wall Street's reckless gambling. I think one needs to understand the current system and how…

According to the United Nations, no country in the world has ever produced narcotics at the deadly rate that's been done in Afghanistan.

I agree with what you just said, and I imagine that the circumstances are better than they would otherwise been absent our efforts.

And I just--again, we're looking for progress and the way to start breaking corruption is to work with the local officials and to reward the community based upon progress being made and not being just taken for personal gain by a few.

I'm glad that we are focusing on the job creation and economic opportunities Water Resources Development projects create for the country.

I appreciate that answer. We've been operating under these inspection requirements under the current START obligations.

I'm certain those two countries may have acted in good faith, but Iran is not.

At each time, there have been the advantages of this treaty for the United States.

It would be for the United States, that type of access--for example, inspection.

I share Senator Lugar's concerns that a single missile could cause havoc with world stability.

I see this treaty as a critical part in the relationship between Russia and the United States in providing world leadership on nuclear safety issues.

These are extremely important issues.