John Hoeven

I sponsored the Keystone XL pipeline legislation which we passed in the Senate with well more than 60 votes.

We now rank 41st in the world in terms of siting projects.

So we can get billions invested, a growing economy, and job creation by giving certainty to industry.

Pipelines are, by far, the safest way, the most efficient way to move a product.

Our permitting system in this country is way out of date.

I always believe the states are in the best position to do that.

That's the way it should be, and I agree with you, Senator.

The President has vetoed that legislation and held the decision up for six years.

We have heard a lot about that today.

We have to reauthorize the Commodity Exchange Act, and so I guess what I would like to hear from each of you are what are the most important issues we need to deal with in reauthorization and the solutions.

I then signed an agreement--I was Governor at that time--with the tribe whereby they agreed to have the State regulatory process apply on the reservation too.

There just has to be a straightforward way to get through that in a timely way so we do not get back to this we are taking a long time and we are not getting through the process.

I would be very interested in getting your assistance on a number of bills that we have proposed to expedite this process.

But, you--so, you do not feel there needs to be any flexibility, even though you have schools that have applied for exemptions?

I have advanced the 50 percent whole grain enriched.

I have introduced legislation with Senator King--this was bipartisan legislation, Senator King from Maine--that would both keep us at the lower sodium level, but not go to the next target level.

So, last year, I included a provision that actually kept the whole grains at 50 percent rather than having 100 percent of the grain products having to be whole grain enriched.

I understand in some cases it relates to pasta or tortillas or some of these other products, and that makes sense, if they are healthy and the kids will eat them.

Well, that is my question in that you need inspection, you need workers, you need ships, you need a number of things.

This one is about reauthorization of FGIS, so in that vein, we are talking about, A, when it comes to grain trade and all the numbers that have been thrown around, 70, 80 percent, this and that and that, reliability is all it is about.

Are you going to stay away from it this year because it is drier? What is your plan?

Obviously we are very focused on the forests, but the grasslands have fire issues as well.

I think we provide a slightly different approach, one that I think would work for both the ranchers and also address our needs.

It is important that we continue it.

Thanks again, Chief. I appreciate it.