I consider this my top priority for the rural part of our State.

We applaud Senator Ron Wyden for his leadership in bringing together a diverse group of Oregonians to craft pioneering legislation that will put people to work restoring Eastern Oregon's forests.

There is great interest in our home State in what you all are trying to do.

last year, several of my colleagues and I wrote to Secretary Gates requesting a clear policy through which the Department of Defense would encourage renewable energy development while maintaining necessary protections for military…

We will follow up, the staff on both sides will follow up with you and work closely with you on it.

I want to suggest a bipartisan path forward that I hope we can look at in the days ahead. I see my friend from Georgia here, who also wants to work on these major economic issues in a bipartisan way. When you listened to colleagues last…

the U.S. Senate recently approved a 1- year extension of the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act with a voice vote. The extension was subsequently approved by the House and signed into law by President Obama. As I have argued for years…

I come to the floor briefly this afternoon to point out these two provisions in the bill that promote quality and innovation. First, I hope States will use the provision that creates incentives for them to innovate. Our message ought to be…

Before he leaves the floor, let me echo the praise for our friend from New Jersey, who has prosecuted the case against cigarettes for so many years. We are thankful to him. What a strong advocate he is. I thank the chairman as well for all…

I rise in support of this legislation to modernize our Nation's aviation system and I am especially pleased that it includes Senate Amendment No. 3534 to protect the pristine beauty and quiet of Crater Lake National Park. This amendment…

Water is of enormous importance to our area, as Dan Keppen, who I will introduce in just a moment, knows.

Now they tend to be resolved with steel pipe and water conservation projects, and that is why, as you noted, the WaterSMART program is such an extraordinary breakthrough in terms of water management.

Just very briefly, Madam Chair, in our part of the world, disputes in the West about taking water from a river used to be resolved with a gun.

Ben Westlund was able to master, like everything else, the challenge of the early-morning meeting in government. I am sure Senator Merkley remembers that even at that early hour, Ben Westlund would bound to the podium--would not walk, he…

the proposed Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act is not the bill I would have written.

Thank you very much.

We commend Senator Wyden, his staff, and the stakeholders who participated in developing S. 2895.

I think I can call that the Shelk spirit because that is exactly the way you have always done it, and we are very appreciative of it.

We commend Senator Wyden for holding a Congressional hearing and encourage other hearings and forums where the merits of this legislation can be discussed.

Recognizing the need for landscape-scale restoration throughout the forests of eastern Oregon is commendable.

If, as Sen. Wyden's bill directs, there could be a tripling of volume sold from the Eastern Oregon National Forests...

Blessed are the peacemakers, because I think what you did in Idaho in bringing people together is very much a part of where we have an opportunity to go now in Idaho and Oregon and this subcommittee.

It is not acceptable to be losing 20 to 40 Americans to avalanches and so many on Federal lands, without the agency doing what it can to predict, control, and mitigate.

I think I am advised by the staff, that last bill is in the jobs legislation, isn't it?

I am gratified by the examples I am seeing around this country on collaboration.