James Lankford

We need to get back, and I think no matter what our view of the wisdom of the RFS is, if it is a law, we expect it to be administered in a way that Congress intended.

I would remind everyone, especially when we are discussing corn-based ethanol, if there is anything that is clear in the law, it is clear that corn-based ethanol is a decreasing percentage of what is used in the days ahead.

If we can do that in a month, where we can come back and say, let us at least get the schedule and so we will know where things are going and give you enough time to be able to lay that out, that would be very helpful to us to get some…

But, would you agree on the cellulosic, we are going to decrease that number by at least 50 percent----

No one has been able to make it in a quantity that is affordable yet, and that has been the challenge of it.

It will be extremely important for all players involved that we start working toward certainty on 2022 on this

The proposed volume that I see here, somewhere around 206 million gallons for 2017, I believe the mandate is somewhere around four billion gallons for that year.

The concern is the--let us say 2014, 2015, 2016 are all finalized November 30, so we have that out.

Importing is importing. At that point, we are still not energy independent, of working in that direction.

If this was about protecting the environment and American energy options, was the intent... how that affects the actual amounts and the targets.

How are you trying to split the two there, to say that this part can basically be used in El Paso, Texas, and Southern Arizona year round but everywhere else, it is not going to be used year round?

While there are lots of folks experimenting with switchgrass and wood and with stalks and with algae and other great ideas, so far, that is actually not a technology that exists.

As we are looking on the horizon here, 2022 is not that far away anymore.

I would assume you would agree, there is no chance we are going to hit the targets for 2017 based in statute, what is required.

I really appreciate you being here and this ongoing conversation.

You are the eyes and ears of the American taxpayer in a way that no one else can see.

As frontline watchdogs for the hardworking taxpayer, Inspectors General play a critical role in congressional oversight.

Our hope is that this sets a new precedent for how we are moving nominees.

Inspectors General do this by rooting out and reporting on waste, fraud, and mismanagement so that agencies may effectively carry out their responsibilities and fulfill their missions in service to the American people.

Well, do not tell the other folks on the nomination process that this has been fast. You need to probably tell them it has been mercilessly slow.

This Congress is very dependent on very independent, very gifted, and tenacious Inspectors General.

Fortunately, when the job is actually taken on, the job is lots of fun.

If it is just about making the agency run smoother and not about protecting the taxpayer or the long-term vision of it, then we have lost focus somewhat.

We have to be better at this.

Good afternoon. Today we will consider the nomination of Carol Ochoa for the position of Inspector General (IG) of the General Services Administration (GSA).