Doc Hastings

I wanted to thank my colleague, your Congressman, Steve Southerland for pushing and trying to get this committee meeting down here.

We can have fish and new sustainable hydropower and I and the Commissioners at Grant PUD support H.R. 6247 that Doc Hastings has presented.

We are committed to maximize renewable hydropower generation and environmental performance goes hand-in-hand at Grant PUD.

As a farmer and Grant County PUD Commissioner today I can tell u we look for win win opportunities for fish and dams today.

Our current Northwest dam infrastructure cleanly powers our industries, businesses, jobs and families--and at low cost.

While some insist the choice is 'dams or fish', it's been proven we can have 'fish and dams.'

There is no disagreement about the importance of salmon recovery, but it must be clearly stated that dams are helping recovery.

Since becoming Chairman, this Committee has been conducting an investigation into the editing of this report and how the moratorium decision was made.

There are legitimate questions that this independence is being compromised.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 requires the IG to be independent, to cooperate with and provide information to Congress, and to protect whistleblowers.

Two years ago, members of this Committee called on the Department of the Interior's Acting Inspector General to conduct an investigation into the Department's May 2010 Drilling Moratorium Report Executive Summary that was edited to appear…

I am very pleased to yield 1 additional minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Landry).

I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Landry), a Representative of a coastal State and a very important member of the Natural Resources Committee.

I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), a member of the Natural Resources Committee and a subcommittee chairman.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and say that if you run out of time, I will claim the time. First, I do not deny that, except the figures that you're using aren't quite accurate; I will say that in the sense that the 2 percent you're…

I am the last speaker on my side, so you do what you have to do, and I will respond accordingly.

I have no more requests for time, and I understand I have the right to close, so I will reserve my time.

I thank the gentlelady for yielding. And I want to congratulate her on her amendment because I think this is a responsible approach that we are trying to take. One of the reasons why California is so important, I think as the gentlelady…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey will be postponed. Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Richardson The Acting CHAIR. It…

I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). The amendment was agreed to. {time} 1750 Amendment No. 2…

And I will just take a few seconds here. This amendment is very simple. It makes two small technical corrections to the way the plan is referred to in the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield to the gentleman…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 1, beginning at line 11, strike ``Proposed oil and gas leasing program (2012-2017)'' and insert…

I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Hurt).

I would tell my friend from Massachusetts, I have one other request for time and then myself to close.

I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from a coastal State, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee).