John Hoeven

I think you--the best thing to do would be, as I said in my testimony, to deem all LNG exports to be in the public interest, to send a signal to Russia that we are going to compete.

I am committed as Chair of this committee to keep Louisiana in the driver's seat to redesign the next big pillars of energy policy for our Nation for the next 20, 30 and 40 years.

This is a big problem for our producers.

This concept of significant nexus I do not agree with and I think is absolutely going down the wrong road.

This is one that I am absolutely opposed to, that our farmers and ranchers are terribly concerned about...

I thank the Chair. (The remarks of Mr. Hoeven pertaining to the introduction of S. 2280 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

I will close. It is time for the Senate to vote on this important issue. With that, I will turn to the Senator from Illinois and again thank him for the additional time. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Hirono). The Senator…

I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I again thank the Senator from Illinois and turn to the Senator from South Carolina for his thoughts on this important issue. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Durbin). The Senator from South Carolina.

I found out recently, and it has been in the media, that two infants have died on the Spirit Lake Reservation.

I put forward the Native American Children's Safety Act which would provide additional protection for Native American children in foster homes.

I would really encourage your help and support on that legislation in terms of getting at some of the red tape and some of the challenges that were faced on the reservation.

As you mention in your testimony, one of the three key areas the President's fiscal year 2015 budget focuses on is managing wildland fires.

I want to emphasize that. Farm groups and our farmers. I was just back in the State, and they are very, very concerned that you are extending the reach of EPA beyond navigable waters to anything that you determine has significant nexus.

The only way that CCS is going to be developed is if it becomes commercially viable.

I said 'commercially viable.'

The process has to move.

We need an all of the above infrastructure plan, meaning pipelines, adequate rail capacity, and adequate road and truck capacity.

I want to thank you for your willingness to come to North Dakota.

I think that can help expedite the process not only in terms of getting to the rule, but in actually then in getting a new enhanced fleet out there on the tracks.

From an Air National Guard perspective, very important that we continue to advance and develop the Predator mission with the newer systems.

And then Secretary, to you or to our other witnesses, any thoughts in terms of the force structure that has been released by the Department of Defense, specifically in regard to the nuclear triad?

Projects like Keystone XL Pipeline and approving applications for LNG export, for example, I put together in the Energy Security Act, legislation I have submitted.

I have legislation, along with others, that would provide approvals for those applications.

We need markets for that gas.

I would strongly encourage you to recommend its approval.