Over the last decade, we have emerged as the world's leading producer of oil and natural gas, and at the same time we lead the world in CO2 emission reductions.

I will confess that I was most disappointed to learn that, while TSA was invited to participate in today's hearing, they officially declined to appear.

This is an important hearing as we begin our work to reauthorize the Nation's pipeline safety laws.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have especially prioritized pipeline safety.

We have a great track record when we work together from the very start, especially when it involves public safety.

I am proud of the work that we accomplished with that bill, particularly the language that I was able to include requiring mandatory annual inspections for certain pipeline crossings.

Strengthening cybersecurity for pipelines is an issue that I care deeply about, and I believe that Congress does need to act in both the House and the Senate.

I hope that we can receive a commitment from you to adopt the same bipartisan formula that worked so well the last two times we did pipeline safety reauthorization.

I look forward to seeing this bill get across the finish line in this Congress.

It does appear that we are on the cusp of actually getting something through.

We are going to have a nuclear renaissance in this country and we need that final repository.

This is the opportunity for us to really embark on early in the year, get it done in the first year.

This is an important hearing, and I appreciate everyone's testimony, that is for sure.

You cautioned against legislation that would undermine the value of patents.

We are all cosponsors. We all worked our networks of folks.

I have long been a supporter of DOE's work on appliance standards, but I realize we have to be realistic about the challenges.

It is long past time that Congress--reexamine EPCA to see if there are ways to modernize the 40-year-old statute to improve DOE's appliance standards program.

I would hate to see anything slow down, given the pace of innovation in this country, which I know you share a faith in.

I believe DOE's efficiency standards have served as one of the nation's most effective policies for reducing energy use.

I look forward to hearing from Assistant Secretary Daniel Simmons, who leads the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which carries out this program.

If we are going to have a serious solution-oriented discussion about how to address climate change risks, as I believe that we should, then we must acknowledge the historical progress that we have made with DOE's efficiency program.

I want to state for the record that we expect EERE to carry out the law as Congress intended, and utilize the resources that Congress provides.

I have long been a supporter of campaign finance reform. I voted for motor voter. I voted for McCain-Feingold the year in the House it was Shays-Meehan. I supported the Help America Vote Act in 2002. There are plenty of flaws in the…

I think that it is pretty apparent that all of us want appliance standards, energy efficiency standards for appliances.

I have no further speakers on our side that I am aware of, and I reserve the balance of my time.