Olympia Snowe

Nondiscrimination requirements have existed in our telecommunications statutes for more than 70 years.

I hope that we also can get to the legislative front, but in the meantime, I think it is going to be important for you to be doing the work that you are doing.

I have been a strong proponent of net neutrality legislation.

That is exactly right. This is really maintaining the status quo in all of this and how best to do it, understanding that technology has evolved in very recent years.

The GAO testified before a House committee in April of last year, saying that 16 percent of the acquisition personnel were vacant within the Coast Guard.

So the bottom line is, is that with the increased number of Coast Guard personnel at the various stations... is sufficient to compensate for the loss of these teams?

I want to welcome Admiral Papp before this committee as the next nominee for the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Have you examined the whole question of the acquisition process now that the Coast Guard is going to be assuming it?

What we can't afford to do is decommission four and bring on two.

In reference to my earlier remarks regarding the budget and this reduction of $340 million over the Fiscal Year 2010.

President Obama has chosen in this Fiscal Year to impose a freeze on nonmilitary discretionary spending.

I think he certainly gained a perspective of, you know, how the people of Maine, a coastal State, and the fishing community view the Coast Guard with tremendous admiration and appreciation for the work that the Coast Guard does.

Because, obviously, in this instance, that will become even exponentially greater.

I know that in the Department of Justice instance that you have to review this transaction based on substantially lessening competition.

I was wondering whether or not there have been any internal changes in both agencies with respect to the merger review process?

I think the steps that they have outlined--that the Under Secretary outlined here, this morning, are consistent with our recommendations.

Effective, fair, and transparent enforcement is critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of these resources.

Maybe there should be a requirement in that regard. Any regulation that's going to devastate a fishery, there has to be an associated solution, a mitigation effort.

I would hope, Dr. Lubchenco, that everybody in the legal enforcement, the Law Enforcement Division has the opportunity to read and has read this report, and particularly the complaint examples, because they are deeply disturbing.

Well, there will be a seasonal impact. They have too much in the Summer and they will have no place to sell it.

What specific actions have been taken to resolve that question? I mean, it clearly is a dysfunctional relationship that exists.

I was horrified to see some of these examples.

I find the report stunning, actually.

I think there should be a responsibility in that regard to say, 'This is what we're going to do to help.'

I just think that there's always a disconnect. It's one thing to make a decision in Washington, but what about the men and women on the ground trying to eke out a living?