On the 26th of March, the Ninth Circuit upheld the roadless rule exemption for the Tongass.

Let me switch for just a minute to the subject that you were in our State to work on, the CO2 rules.

I introduced the Empower States Act, allowing States and tribes the ability to regulate hydraulic fracturing on Federal lands.

We need to work on that as a whole, and we need to get the language correct so that you are certain that we are doing the right thing here.

Our farmers are very concerned about this. I want to emphasize that.

I have had serious concerns about new Federal regulations of hydraulic fracturing on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

How are you going to assure us that private property rights are going to be protected?

Our challenge is how do we get the VA to offer more services in the local communities?

We have a real need for services out there.

We worked hard and worked for a long time to get that, and I want to thank you for moving forward with it.

Thank you for the work that you do and for your service.

I ask the Chair for 2 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

This morning I spoke on the floor and I talked about energy. I talked about the need for a States first, all-of-the-above approach to a comprehensive energy plan that will not only produce more energy for our country but will get us to…

Thank you, Madam President. Last night the majority party had an all-night session talking about energy, but there is no specific proposal coming forward. We are here ready to vote to do our job representing the American people and…

I ask for unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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

I thank the Presiding Officer. If you think about it, it builds on the very foundation and very concept of how our country works. The United States is the laboratory of democracy. The States are the laboratories of democracy. Let's make…

It is important that we do everything we can to make sure that you are able to operate as effectively as possible because I think the impact of your work is truly profound.

Thanks, Madam Chairman.

Thanks both to you, Mr. Dodaro, and to you, Dr. Elmendorf, for being here and for the work that you do, GAO and CBO, two agencies that have tremendous impact on what is done here in the Congress.

Well, we will have to get you up to North Dakota. Then we can show you hydraulic fracturing.

So who do you typically hire? You know, just give me a bit of a profile.

Now you can't plagiarize somebody else's answer.

You don't just go back to the agency and say, 'Hey, you tell us kind of how life is.' You go beyond that?

I think that raises issues of liquidity. I think that raises issues of price volatility.

We need to do this safely and we need a comprehensive approach.