the greatest barrier to meaningful self-determination is that politicians affiliated with the Island's minority Popular Democratic Party have not been honest with the people of Puerto Rico.

For those who suggest the Department has not underestimated the risks, then I'd ask, Why is it that MMS has repeatedly felt the need to overrule NOAA and allow drilling to move forward without proper permits?

I do hope that the Chair will consider bringing some of these scientists and others, and NOAA and others, before the committee.

the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act would increase the cap on economic damages resulting from an oil spill from the current $75 million to $10 billion.

I think it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is no such thing as too safe to spill.

I am just trying to understand how 60, 70 percent cuts mean more housing for people who are disabled and elderly. I just don't get it.

I look at the numbers, 168,000 homeowners who have received final 5-year loan modifications under the Administration's plan. It is a tiny fraction of 6 million people who are more than 60 days late on their loans.

This bill proposes to make national the standards that several States have adopted for these products and thus end the regulatory patchwork currently facing manufacturers.

We voted to award funding for the creation of an Ovarian Cancer Academy.

We see reports from a whistle-blower that BP's enormous Atlantis platform in the Gulf of Mexico is lacking the proper engineering and safety documentation.

I wrote you in November to ask you to launch an investigation into the safety of Sea Drill Limited's operations off our shorelines.

I think if we can create a framework that incentivizes the Haitian diaspora in Canada and the United States to return, which many of them would be willing to do in the right framework, we could really move this whole thing forward.