John Barrasso

It is a concern when you hear the shortage of 200,000 housing units and the impact on economic activity.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the Committee?

Do you anticipate that there are tribes which have the authority to enter into the surface leases for that term of up to 99 years, if they would be discouraged from taking advantage of the HEARTH Act?

The HEARTH Act would authorize tribes to enter into business and agricultural leases without the approval of the Secretary.

Can you kind of characterize what interest there is out there among Indian tribes in taking advantage of the HEARTH Act?

I understand and appreciate how important this measure is to Senator Tester, and I know it is important to the Little Shell members who support it.

I think that would eliminate a lot of red tape.

I want to thank you and Senators Tester and Johnson and Thune and Udall for agreeing to co-sponsor this piece of legislation.

I appreciate both of you being here today... addressing some of these various concerns that are critical.

Do you believe you have worked out any of those issues now with the EPA in terms of uranium mining permitting so that now we can proceed with a faster permitting process?

Would you agree with that California Coastal Commission's conclusion?

Some want to use this crisis in Japan as a tool to wipe out nuclear power in the United States.

So then, Administrator Jackson, you are comfortable with that statement? Do you commit to work with any issues that we need to resolve between the NRC and EPA in a timely manner?

Without it, America's vast energy resources will remain locked away and we will become increasingly dependent on foreign energy.

When it comes to American energy, we need it all. Oil and natural gas are a critical part of the mix.

Most of America's oil and gas production is dependent on hydraulic fracturing.

The oil and gas industry supports nearly 20,000 jobs in the State of Wyoming.

I am afraid that we have achieved, as you said, only limited success, too limited.

I want to thank you for holding this important hearing today, and I want to welcome all of those who are going to be sharing their thoughts and their ideas with us.

However, according to the Government Accountability Office and the Inspector General reports, there have been some problems in the oversight and implementation of the program.

However, the program must fulfill its basic purposes, not simply operate as a way that benefits firms or individuals that the program is not intended to help.

The fundamental purpose of this program is to assist small businesses to become self-sufficient and capable of competing effectively in the marketplace.

In Rhode Island a year ago, we had the worst flooding that anyone can remember.

It was particularly traumatic economically, because Rhode Island's history goes back to the mills that were powered by the rivers.

We have been debating in Congress the scope of this Administration's attempt to regulate climate change using what I feel is a back door method...