Ben Ray Luján

Where is the civility? Where is the respect? Where can we find a way to respectfully disagree but ask the tough questions that need to be asked?

I don't think anybody does, especially our Members that represent the beautiful districts that were impacted.

the words 'pause' and 'moratorium' have been interchanged.

the minority strenuously objects to your allowing Mr. Johnson to proceed with the line of questioning

The President doesn't want higher prices at the pump. Heck, I don't even think Governor Romney wants higher prices at the pump.

Secretary Salazar implemented a drilling moratorium to stop further damage, not to arbitrarily penalize oil companies.

Instead of wasting our time on this baseless investigation, we should be looking into how these reforms are progressing and how the industry is implementing them so we can prevent more lives from being lost.

These assumptions are ludicrous and we must remember the seriousness of the situation and the tremendous damage the spill caused.

It was clearly demonstrated that there was no plan to contain the Macondo well and a moratorium was necessary to assess and contain the damage.

Mr. Chairman, if I could ask unanimous consent?

If we are serious about this, let's pass an amendment that says what is being produced in America is going to be for American use.

Why can't we move a bipartisan piece of legislation that many of us in this room are both co-sponsors of called the Natural Gas Act that will be able to empower 18-wheelers to move natural gas on the interstate system?

As I mentioned in my opening statement, there is a great deal of frustration on the part of the Chairman and the majority of this Committee of not getting information from this Administration.

the moratorium was unnecessary.

We need to be aware of what we say, Mr. Chairman. When we say that the President supports terrorist regimes? I don't think anyone in here really believes that, Mr. Chairman, and that is dangerous.

It is past time that the killer of more than 90% of the salmon--the Federal Columbia River Power System--do more to help this important resource.

The science on this matter is clear--spill is the most effective and safest means of getting salmon past the federal dams.

The bill's prohibition on even studying potential dam removal is simply counter to sound federal decision-making.

Look, if there wasn't a spill, we wouldn't be here today.

I appreciate the character you are showing today, with the type of questioning that you are having to go through.

What we should be talking about today and in the future is the moral question. Eleven people's lives were taken.

I am sorry that was said. Because words matter.

Well, I appreciate that, Inspector General. And you know, Mr. Chairman, before I yield back, again, words matter.

If we don't have water, we don't have anything.

It is critical that we pass common sense legislation to address the issues of fire risk, fire suppression, and rehabilitation.