Jeff Merkley

It just kind of defies logic, and so I want to ask the question again. Why did the FDA decide to do away with advisory panels on these dangerous drugs?

We are officially in favor of mandatory education, and we think it is one of the most important things that could be done.

There are plenty of fascinating and really important issues that the FDA deals with.

The concept was that we could create a lot of jobs in rural America if people could take loans on their electric bill...

I want to go back to the opioid situation, and I mentioned the number of pills in Oregon, the 100 million pills prescribed for the population in 1 year of 4 million.

I do appreciate that your personal background gives you that direct insight because some type of special change is needed here.

Let us get this done.

I want to thank you for these 8 years of service.

Well, I can tell you it does not get through because just recently, for example, my daughter had her wisdom teeth extracted...

The addiction rate for e-cigarettes has increased dramatically.

It is crazy, 100 million pills in the State of Oregon?

The longer the tobacco deeming regulation takes, the more attempts there will be to include things like the House's language last year.

So we are officially in favor of mandatory education, and we think it is one of the most important things that could be done.

I want to turn to the current Senate conversation about opioids and opioid addiction and the overdoses that are occurring.

To have a product targeted to children that is that effective is troublesome.

I also appreciate the administration's support for the Klamath settlement efforts.

When you started out your commentary, you mentioned Harney County and Malheur Refuge. That has been a traumatic experience for Oregon.

Can we continue to ask you to assist us?

I know the tribe appreciates that as well.

One including sage-grouse conservation, another being the Malheur Refuge itself, management of the refuge.

If the administration reaches the same conclusion, as you put it, before your time is up, I would love to see the coal leasing program ended.

I believe that process will continue with additional funds that were made available from Reclamation.

If that is not a canary in the coal mine, I do not know what it is.

Is it possible that the BIA could assist the tribe in some of these expenses that they are going to incur?

I went down with Secretary Vilsack's first agricultural visit, the first trip since 1961.