Olympia Snowe

I hate to be on the other side of a safety issue with you, because we have worked so closely on so many other issues.

I've been fighting this issue for a long time in this committee.

Truck weights are a critical issue for my state, and presumably other states in this country.

Congress must do its part to ensure that the people and environment in the Gulf region are made whole following that disaster.

The National Endowment for the Oceans Act takes the common-sense step of using money the government already gets from economic activities on our oceans.

Congress should invest revenues derived from offshore development in a fund dedicated to ocean and coastal restoration and conservation.

Congress should ensure that the United States has the financial resources necessary to be an effective steward of its oceans and coastal ecosystems.

It is important because in New England the commercial fishing industry continues to have the highest fatality rate of any occupation, which is deeply troubling.

You are asked to do more with less, and being stretched thin.

Unfortunately, the level of procurement never sustained even a 300-ship Navy.

We're far below the 300-ship Navy that was the original goal.

I've said this time and again, given the age of the vessels.

It is regrettable, because this is one of the things we tried to avoid in the past.

That is one of the things we tried to resolve with the Deepwater acquisition program reforms, was to make sure you received the money in a given year so that you can move forward.

I'm very grateful to the Congress for providing all the money in the 2011 budget so that we could award NSC number 5 this summer.

Last year, as you know, in Congress we passed the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act which addressed some ongoing concerns about the acquisition management process.

So, we cannot continue to heap mission upon mission onto the Coast Guard without increasing its resources.

The common theme emerging is that for years we've asked the Coast Guard to save American lives and natural resources on a shoestring budget.

I appreciate, Mr. Chairman, your leadership, and for convening this hearing to discuss the future of our nation's most versatile branch, the Coast Guard.

Unfortunately, yes, it was a significant setback.

I hope you will use your voice and the force of the office on the whole issue of regulations.

I think it is so paramount in focusing on job creation.

We need to have a Commerce Department being that singular weapon on behalf of the private sector to create the kind of jobs.

There's no doubt Mr. Bryson has a very extensive background in the corporate arena, as CEO of Edison International.

I think the question is on the statutory obligation.