Doc Hastings

Now, I realize--and if I am correct, Mr. Chairman, my limited readings about the Founding Fathers of our country--purposely, purposely established a three-branch government as a divided government.

There was no intention that we are going to have one party, one government, one religion, because our Founding Fathers did not trust the nature of man.

So, whether it be in my little district or throughout the country, as I notice, I think this has been the common concern by members of our panel who represent our fishing industry, and I absolutely--I support the concerns of our commercial…

And, like I said, I think one of the reasons why the President has taken this initiative to, by Executive Order, do this, is because Congress has failed for the last 10 years to come up with a national policy, by statute, on how to look at…

I advise my friend that I have no requests for time. If he is prepared to close, I'll close.

I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the cosponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).

I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Rigell).

If not, I am prepared to yield back and start the amendment process if the gentlelady yields back.

I would like to ask my friend from California if she has anymore speakers on the debate portion of this.

I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), the sponsor of this very important legislation.

This Committee has not held an oversight hearing over CEQ's budget for many years.

I want to thank Chairwoman Sutley for coming before this Committee again.

I would once again ask for the full 90-day extension.

This implies to me that either nothing is planned for Fiscal Year 2013 to implement this policy, which I find hard to believe, or all of these agencies are quietly siphoning money from other activities to fund this unauthorized activity.

I hope this hearing serves as a way to get more information on how the National Ocean Policy specifically is being funded.

It shouldn't take a subpoena to get straight answers and documents, but if that is what it takes to get the Obama Administration to comply, then I am prepared to take that step.

Congress and this Committee have an obligation to the American people to conduct oversight of the executive branch and get answers to questions that are asked.

Not once over the last year has a single deadline been met, and the Administration continues to withhold the vast majority of requested materials.

This is a serious matter that impacts the livelihood of entire communities, the jobs of thousands of coal miners across the Nation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. With all due respect to my good friend and colleague from West Virginia, each person may have his own definition of an earmark, but we are governed by the definition in House rules, not by a cavalier…

I thank the gentleman for yielding, Mr. Chairman, and I heard the author of the amendment state something, and I will paraphrase, that he spoke to the chairman of the committee on the allocation of the water, and supposedly the chairman of…

I am pleased to yield the balance of the time again to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes).

We only have one other speaker, and we have the right to close, so I'll reserve my time. Mr. McNERNEY. Well, as we've heard both sides, this is a complicated issue. We don't want farmers in any part of the valley to be hurt, but the delta…

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), the author of this legislation.

I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham). {time} 1610