Jeff Bingaman: “I'm not the chair of that committee. But Senator Harkin who is, has authorized us to have this hearing.”

He knows the crucial role that Congress plays in setting policy and in overseeing how that policy is carried out.

I think all of us, if we were choosing a Secretary of Energy, would want to choose somebody with those attributes.

I thank my colleague Senator Leahy. Madam President, what is the pending business before the Senate now? Is it an amendment to this legislation? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Amendment No. 3371 is the pending business. Amendment No…

I would certainly like to thank Senator Bingaman, who just retired just very recently, for the strong support that he has shown me over the years, and including support for this nomination.