James Oberstar: “Thank you very much. Again, congratulations on your designation, on clearing the Senate, and your appointment.”

First, I am grateful for the indulgence of our colleague on the committee, our ranking member and senior Republican, Mr. Mica, for responding so quickly to the action of the other body. We are unaccustomed to such prompt unanimous action…

I consider myself hardworking. It's nice to have that affirmation from the gentleman who himself knows the value of, and puts in, hard work. Perhaps the best news this afternoon was the announcement we just heard from the other body that…

I, too, have natural resources--national forests, national parks, wildlife refuges. When fire, as it does regularly, strikes the national forest, that land regenerates. The oil destroys. It likely cannot be restored by itself or by human…

The gentleman from Washington is mistaken in his understanding or his reading of the amendment that I offer. It's an amendment to OPA. It is not an amendment to the dollar amounts and does not reference dollar amounts. Under OPA, of which…