And then what about the comment period? We had asked for a 120-day comment period, and you have only extended 30 days.

So one-size-fits-all even though you have different geology and different practices and different types of mining in different parts of the country. That does not make sense, does it?

But you are open to addressing the circumstances that I have outlined where we are meeting all the requirements and acknowledged that there are differences and that you cannot apply a one-size-fits-all. Is that correct?

a one-size-fits-all application just simply does not work, cannot work.

I think that is very important because you have not hosted meetings in the Western states--at least in Wyoming or North Dakota.

The availability, the affordability, and the quality of our food, though often taken for granted, is a linchpin of every American's personal security.

I have been working with our Chairman, Chairman Roberts, and with the Ranking Member, Senator Stabenow, on putting together bipartisan consensus legislation to address the issue of labeling of food made with genetically engineered, or GMO…

I do think it is important for the American public to understand what is being done to ensure the safety of the food that Americans eat.

If we find a way to make it easier to do business, companies respond. Investments are made, jobs are created.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks to both you and the Ranking Member for holding this important hearing today.

When I was in North Dakota, Sen. Hoeven and I discussed how critical affordable, reliable infrastructure is to rural America.

I asked then Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, to update the U.S. Geological Survey's 2000 estimate of the reserves.

There is not an industry sector I talked to... that does not come in and they say they are absolutely mired in red tape and regulation and bureaucracy which adds tremendous cost and makes it more difficult to create jobs.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I rise to speak on the issue of the fiscal year 2016 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill--the bill that, in fact, is now before the Senate. We just voted at 2 o'clock this afternoon on the NDAA, the National Defense…

I rise to discuss the legislation before this body, the National Defense Authorization Act. Before doing so, I want to take a minute and address the DRIVE Act. I strongly support the DRIVE Act. It is very important that we have a 6-year…

again, I thank the Senator from California. This is important bipartisan legislation, and we need to continue to work to get it done. I rise today to discuss the NDAA--the National Defense Authorization Act. It is likewise incredibly…

So why wouldn't we want to do that and in fact make ourselves less dependent on the SPR by having a more robust industry?

Would you invest millions of dollars in order to build either a traditional or a renewable project if you might have to wait seven years to get a decision...

Would you acknowledge that?

So my question to you is if somebody is going to follow all the laws, follow all the regulations and invest millions of dollars and still wait seven years for a siting decision...

Wouldn't you favor certainty in terms of trying to get investors in companies to make the decisions to invest in energy infrastructure?

The point being if we are allowed to compete in the global economy we will have a more robust oil and gas industry in this country than we will have if we are not allowed to compete.

But it did show an impact.

isn't it very important that we allow, that we lift the oil export ban in order to reduce our dependence on the SPR