I thought the Secretary began quickly to set a very different tone.

I think what I'd like to have an assurance on is that you will give great deference to the folks at the Fish and Wildlife Service.

But I can tell you, specifically, as I talked to virtually the entire administration's economic team, I wasn't able to convince them to go along. And I think that's unfortunate.

What I can tell you, specifically, is I talked to virtually the entire administration's economic team. I wasn't able to convince them to go along, and I think that's unfortunate.

I want to thank the Secretary first for the very strong message you sent about ethical priorities at the Department.

Let us talk about ways to make it simpler, because I think you have put your finger on it.

I want to commend you, Mr. Chairman, and also Senator Feinstein.

I would be happy to work on that with some of our Article 4 folks in Arizona.

We've haven't been able to do it because of this policy with respect to Federal lands.

Because my sense is, talking to local law enforcement officials, they certainly do not want the Federal Government to come on in and dictate to them various things with respect to these prosecutions.

I think anything that could raise the bar in this kind of joint prosecution effort and in the new area that we are just beginning to look at now, which is using Article 4 not just where we have a carefully identified suspect.

Let's get this definition right so that we can get some of the woody biomass off Federal lands.

I think making sure that wave energy gets the attention it warrants would fit perfectly at page two of the order.

I and others want to get that material and use it as a source of biomass, as a source of clean energy that we think will put people to work, and will, at the same time, make our forests healthier.

I'm going to do everything I can to get this straightened out with respect to liquefied natural gas before we then leap to say this is the model that we ought to be using elsewhere.

I know you haven't been in your current position but a couple weeks. I will tell you, I'm still troubled about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission having the final say here.

the natural gas siting process has just been a disaster.

I believe you're going to be confirmed. You're certainly going to have my support.

I know of no member of this Committee--neither a Democrat or a Republican--who would ever want to get in the way of one of those ongoing investigations and prosecutions.

I think the American people have a right to this, as long as steps are taken to protect our national security and our nation's wellbeing.

the model that is included or embodied in the CLASS Act that Senator Kennedy has introduced.

There is a group of people who don't complain at all about their health coverage in this country and that's Members of Congress.

Finding this right niche on the public and private side is going to be key.

Could I ask one other question, Mr. Chairman? How would you three propose paying for it?

I think it is fair to say that I wouldn't have any Republican sponsors on the Healthy Americans Act if I had tilted this effort to the public side.