Transcripts For CSPAN2 Energy Secretary Nominee Rick Perry Testifies At Confirmation Hearing 20170119

[inaudible conversations] good morning. The committee will come to order. Id like to welcome you all to our second bubble confirmation hearing of this anon girls feet. I would like to start by thanking senator korn and for being here to speak on behalf of our nominee is. Always good to have you. Our fellow committee member, senator mention from West Virginia is prepared to also offer introductory remarks for a nominee. Governor perry, i would like to extend a warm welcome to you and to your family. Know that i appreciate your desire to serve, your willingness to become our next secretary of energy. Ive enjoyed the meeting that we had together, learning more about your leadership as governor of the state of texas, including your accomplishments in the area of energy and environment. Im going to withhold this morning and a reference to text size versus alaska size. Weve had that discussion. But in all seriousness, we know that you are seeking to leave the department of energy at an interesting time in critical time. D. O. E. Has helped make our nation a Global Leader in research and development is supporting basic research, by encouraging scientific exploration of fostering innovation. At the heart of these efforts are Scientific Research funded by the department and the 17 National Laboratories that employ the departments greatest asset in the asset of course is the scientist who dedicate not just their careers, but in so many cases they dedicate their lives to solving some of the toughest challenges that face our nation and really face the world. Im hopeful if you are come armed, and you will take a broad view of the importance of basic Scientific Research and continue to pursue the significant benefits that will result from it. Done right and in a disciplined manner, it does, it goes that an innovation policies will provide us with more energy, reduce the amount of energy and lower the cost that we pay for energy. In my view, those are the Guiding Principles for the department, so i would encourage you as you know if i were to work with the rest of the administration to increase access to energy, to make energy more affordable and continue to improve its environmental goals. Folks here at the committee now i have a set of principles that are pretty easy, affordable, accessible, clean, diverse and secure. Theres no acrid and bitter its in alphabetical order so that we remember it all. I sum it all up in one Bumper Sticker that says energy is good because i believe that and i hope you believe that as well. So if these are your goals, if we share the same outcome here, i think that we can greatly contribute to the prosperity of our standard of living and the health of our planet. I would encourage you to ensure the department of energy steps the department of energy sapsucker becomes an advocate or Energy Supply within the cows government. It seems than this past years weve seen other agencies that have been successful in taking resources off the table regardless of the longterm consequences for the American People. One of the Biggest Challenges is the management of a large and very complex organization with thousands of employees and tens of thousands of contractors. I do not subscribe to the view that only a scientist can manage other scientists. Instead im a what we need is a good manager. We need a manager to manage all the scientist, one who acknowledges, maybe i dont know everything in that space, but being capable of organizing, setting direction, imposing accountability, making the greatest possible use of taxpayer dollars and reaching goals. Governor perry, as the longestserving governor of texas, you have considerable experience bidding of big and very sophisticated enterprise. I believe that will serve you well as secretary and look forward to hearing how you would carry that experience over to the department. If you are confirmed, you will also find yourself in a position to make the department run more effectively. Secretary monet as i think has made some very Good Progress in breaking down some of the silos that have historically frustrated the department, but i think we all recognize there is more that can be done. Offices within the Department Must do a better job working together to utilize limited resources and reduce unnecessary duplication. I know in our conversation he made a commitment to travel to my stay. Im sure as you have visited with other members, you have made similar commitments to them. But i do appreciate your willingness to come to alaska to see my home state firsthand. The department of interior is usually the one that makes the headlines in alaska, the department of energy is also very and perhaps three key ways that i can point out to you this morning. First is that the department can do to help reduce extremely high energy costs in the state of alaska. Our energy costs are the greatest challenge facing our rural areas. Many of our communities are still reliant on diesel as their primary energy source. Many of the small interior communities inaccessible by road, they may be experiencing fuel prices in the range of 9 to 10 a gallon for their fuel is not sustainable is simply does not work. Its a huge burden and would ultimately cannot bid because you have families that just say we cant live here. We cant stay in the village, in a region that we have been in for a thousand years. Because the energy costs are driving them away. So they leave their villages and go to town, anchorage, fairbanks, but it really is not the right choice. I think our challenge should be to help them find this Energy Solutions. This is where we in alaska can offer a great deal of opportunity because we have been innovative, innovative because the necessity and we have a lot to share with the rest of the country in terms of demonstrating how we can find Energy Solution vary locally. We have more micro grids and more to talk about in the micro in the microgrid space than anywhere else in the country. And so, i ask you to use us. Use that expertise. I think the department of energy has some great opportunity to partner with communities and organizations not only in alaska at around the country to develop Real Solutions particularly with Renewable Energy that can help reduce their energy costs. Ive told you that i think alaska can be that proving ground and we look at it and say if youve got new technologies that make sense somewhere else, we can pretty much guarantee that theyll make sense in alaska and we are the beneficiary because we see the reduce costs. I want to see the department make a much greater effort to capitalize on not Going Forward. The second at the department can work with alaska is to help us bring our stranded natural gas to market. After the department granted a conditional export license to the alaska gas line project, but we have to continue receiving good strong support in timely approval from the federal government if the project is going to succeed. Finally, the department of energy the department of energy cannot alaska commercialize more of its vast research space. The office of fossil energy has focused almost exclusively on environmental aspects of deals in recent years, but its mission is supposed to be considerably broader than that. A renewed focus on Precompetitive Research on methane hydrate and other resources could lead to new breakthroughs and boost our Nations Energy security and long into the future. I do think it is important to recognize this committee, which has a reputation of working collaboratively in a good bipartisan way. Senator cantwell and i have along with our colleagues been able to move the ball forward on some very Important Energy issues. And weve been able to do that in part with the department of energy because weve got a good relationship, positive relationship with the current secretary of energy, earning money is. I think hes done well as secretary and while i didnt always agree with him, it was a working relationship that was solid. And there was good respect and i hope that in that respect, you will follow his lead working with us, and making yourself available to us about whether to testify here, to just keep in contact, stay in touch, generally be responsive to our members here. If you can do that, youll be on the right track and will Work Together as we seek to maintain americas leadership. I thank you for being here this morning and your willingness to serve. I now turn to Ranking Member cantwell. Thank you on a chair. Welcome, governor perry. Welcome to your family. Congratulations on your nomination. In case you may have forgotten, you once called for the abolishment of this agency. I suspect that now having had a chance to learn about the importance of this department, you have a very different opinion. The department asked the chair just pointed out plays an essential role in protecting our National Security, economic security, Energy Security and Environmental Security and its wideranging Mission Impacts almost every aspect of our lives. The department of energy is a science and Technology Powerhouse and it is unrivaled as a network of National Laboratories accelerating innovation in helping us with our Manufacturing Base to stay competitive. The department of energy has helped make the United States a world leader in addition and clean energy and Energy Efficiency technology and there are now more people working installing solar panels in the country then working at oil and gas extraction. The department of energy has built and maintained our Nuclear Deterrent led to guide our ongoing nonproliferation affairs, managed the Nuclear Weapons complex such as pampered and help us win world war ii and the cold war. It is very important that we talk to dad about her steadfast determination and i will again into that more. And also our threats continue to involve the department of evolve. As a punter on the overview Obama Administration for cybersecurity and emergency responses are critical. Just as the Dance Research agency called dust in the development and will help us in the wired economy of the future and making sure this will protect it. It will be the job of the next Energy Secretary to be a good overseer of the enterprises to maintain the achievements of the past 40 years have not the u. S. Emits in recent competitive Global Market place on 10 you can protect the grade from these growing threats of cybersecurity. Leading our National Labs is going to be a critical aspect of this leadership and leading is paramount. It is our job today to consider how well you will do that job. Like many of my colleagues, i am deeply concerned for things youve said in the past about Climate Science to move again into that in more detail. I believe it is the consensus of the Scientific Community that Climate Change is real, that its happening now and it is due to human activity. Yesterday nasa Just Announced 2015 was the warmest year on record. And the art that, where warming is happening faster than any place on earth, the melting of sea ice is now at an alltime high. How do we know all of this . We know because the department of energy does the research. So we want to make sure that Climate Science in the arctic is not just something the department of energy and its National Laboratories and University Partners are doing, but that people understand its not just an academic pursuit, but we made the information for a very important decisions. The nature and the pace of these changes have serious impacts for the department of defense and investment and the kind of infrastructure we need to stand up in the arctic. We are, i know my chair would agree with this. We are an arctic nation. And that means that this part of the world is going to be coveted by many nations. Its shipping lanes, trade routes, defense issues are going to be central. So senator murkowski could also tell you, the implication for arctic communities and their way of life is also impact did. In my state along, our fisheries industry and the shellfish industry were almost devastated by ocean acidification. So the department of Energy Scientific horsepower is key to wonders and in these trends. So i hope that you can understand there is widespread anxiety about president elect trumps intention to dismantle Scientific Capabilities are simply just starve these resources. We hope that you, governor perry, will be someone who understands and believes in the Science Mission of this agent dave and will leave it to the best of your ability. Mission innovation, which is the priority of this agency and continuing to move forward on Renewable Energy is also critically important. Almost 2 million americans work in Energy Efficiency alone, driving doubledigit savings to consumers by these advancements. Our quadrennial review of estimate that we need 1. 5 million new energy jobs by 2030, which will be grid modernization and clean energy related. What we have seen through the innovation that has happened through lawrence berkeley, and university is that the cost of utility solar has dropped 64 since 2008 which is caused solar energy last year to lead all forms of energy in new capacity installation and give back billions to consumers in savings. More than 115,000 electric vehicles doubling the amount of 2012. The d. O. E. Is help bring down the cost at eb through Better Research on Battery Technology is. It relies on the important investment by the department of energy and the lab that supports them. The Trump Administration will cling to the fossil fuel industry of the past and continue to lead on the innovations that are going to be delete technologies in the clear leadership position. Along with that is that in Nuclear Waste cleanup between 10 and 15 of the agencys budget. Nonproliferation. As i mentioned earlier, the quadrennial review could not be more clear on the urgency of cybersecurity. In light of recent revelations about russian hacking the secretary of energy needs to take it very seriously the threats to this nation and our electricity grid. We are becoming more and more a wider economy. My constituents spend nine days on new technologies within Energy Secretary who are going to take the threats of rushing hacking seriously and defend us against them. I hope we can go into more detail and questions about this. But i want to make sure you understand that the past Energy Secretary is leaving you with a roadmap for cybersecurity. I hope youll take it and provide the leadership that our nation needs to stop our vulnerabilities against something so important as protecting the innovation economy of the future by foreign entities. With that on behalf of the 15,000 washington workers that work at pni labs, i hope youll take what weve said here today about science, innovation and investment very seriously. I look forward and congratulations on being nominated on this important agency. The alaska senator korn and to provide his introduction of the nominee and when senator cornyn has completed his comments has completed its comments, well turn to you, senator manchin and proceed to hear from governor perry. Welcome, senator cornyn. Signature and murkowski, Ranking Member cannot well, colleagues, thank you for holding to the secretary of the department of Energy Department of energy and made the opportunity of introducing him. I want to just also introduce his wife, and nita, who is here today. He has his extended family, including some of his adopted family here with him today and ill let him introduce the rest of them. I got to know sandy and i pay my wife and i got to know rick and anita when we ran for statewide office in 1990. Its been a few years now. Rick had heard he served in the air force. They served in the state legislature before being elected as agricultural commissioner of texas. I got elected to the Texas Supreme Court that same year. Later in december of 2000, rick assumed the office of governor of the state of texas becoming as chairman murkowski noted along with serving governor of state. Serving in Public Office alongside someone that line gives you a chance to assess their character and abilities. Im here to say that i know governor perry to be a tremendous leader of the highest caliber in a dedicated Public Servant who is committed to working on behalf of the people of texas and now on behalf of the nation. Rick perry is not a status quo kind of guy. He is a leader. Hes an innovator. Texans are by nature practical people looking for solutions to problems. Rick has led in that spirit and i believe the result in our state speak for themselves. Weve been blessed by the leadership of governor perry. During his tenure, the states tried to make even as much as the rest of the country languish. Texas not only added almost 2 million jobs during his time in office, but was responsible for the lions share of all job growth across the nation from 20,722,014. Its really a remarkable statistic. While he was governor, texas became the top exporting state in the country in more than 14 years in a row now. And thousands of miles of highway lanes were added to our roadways. In other words, under governor perrys watch, texas florist in a help texans everywhere even more to brag about. But the real measure of a leader is tested in times of hardship and trial. Thomas a while tires two major hurricanes along our gulf coast and the tragic explosion in west texas he was able to rise to the occasion, make tough decisions in meet the challenge placed in front of him. On top of all these, schmitz, rick. As a proven track record of success when it comes to the texas energy landscape, not an insignificant part of our economy. Many associate texas with the oil and gas industry and that would be fair. But during rick simon asked him, he championed and all of the above Energy Strategy, really and all of the above Energy Strategy. It wasnt just rhetoric. To revolutionize production to energy use and more innovation. Today, texas not only did the nation in oil and Gas Production that produces more wind energy than any other state in the country. More than all but five countries under his leadership solar energy has continued to grow in texas is poised to become a National Leader in solar power as well. Thanks to his common sense approach to governing, creating thousands of jobs in making energy more affordable for texas families. So rick doesnt fall in the either or trap to fall into. A zerosum game where we talk about energy. Spur innovation and investment in the technology is about stifling existing technologies and while reducing our states Carbon Footprint as well. And at the risk of and the Guiding Principles of the tenure are smart regulation, encouraging innovation and creating a climate that grows every aspect of Energy Production and has continued to serve our state well. So i have absolutely no doubt that rick perry will put forward an American First Energy policy at the department and will help spawn the next great era of American Energy. He has a track record. He has the knowhow and a real desire to export more American Energy to enhance security of our friends and allies abroad. Put another way, rick. Simply the right man for the job and its an honor for me to support his nomination to be the third text and to the department of energy. Thank you, madam chairman. Senator manchin. Senator murkowski, senator cornyn, governor perry and his lovely wife, and nita, to their daughter sydney and extended family and i know your son griffin wasnt able to be here today, but i know he is with you in spirit. The president elects nominee for the secretary of energy, governor rick perry. He is the longestserving governor in history of texas. The 12 largest economy in the world and is uniquely qualified to hold this position. For many years we have been friends and i know rick understands how to work across the aisle and a bipartisan way to get things done. I seen that firsthand. I was honored to call him my colleague. Secretary king understands our college as governors you know they become friends, they become part of your family. And my tenure as the State Government of West Virginia. In the year 2005, katrina, we can of katrina, and we were the southern governors conference and we were sitting there and ive not met governor perry before but we meet two or three times a year, get to know each other. We are sitting there and governor blogger from louisiana could that be there because she was told that hurricane was going to have a devastating impact on her state. So rick and i that we can were talking back and forth over watching the weather reports, was going to happen and different precautions. As governors want to take to protect all your citizens to keep them out of harms way the best you can. Ill never forget the last day we were leaving. We had to get back. Rick was going back to texas. I said do you think the hurricane, what have you heard, is it going to affect a . He said i just talked with people in texas and we think were going to be spared. We witnessed by this hurricane. It was a blessing. Lo and behold within the next week, did rick ever have a wide awakening because then with the devastation that hit over a quarter of 1 Million People i think moved in immediately to texas. Texas got overwhelmed at that time and they didnt have the support. We are waiting for someone to kind of directors. As governors we took her own and just you. We are all commanders in chief of our National Guard and i said rick, what can we do . He said i need some help. We sent c130s. We sent over 1200 soldiers to help him to move in supplies, to a fema moving supplies, to help move people out because they had nowhere to go. We move them into West Virginia. It was a collaboration of how government should work and how we all should be working together. So i watched him under that, and really tough situation. People are dependent on rick to step to the table and he did. He took care of them, never missed a beat and we all reached out to help each other. So throughout those challenging times governor perrys resources and managerial skills were on display. Someone says are you ready for these jobs . No one gave us a manual when we became governor. We did know everything that it entailed. We had to learn while we were there. You have to get up to speed quick. Senator murkowski, i know you know from your family accepted what were talking about. I have no doubt that rick is going to not only do the job, hes going to excel in the job. Diversifying the texas portfolio is remarkable. The number one producer of crude oil and natural gas in the nation. The state of texas has done the heavy lifting like West Virginia and so many of your states. People dont ask for much. They will go into the heavy work and they will continue to provide for this country and make as a superpower they are with the greatest economy in the world. I believe rick has experience and the tenacity to serve in this chapter. Texas is of the largest producer of crude oil, natural gas and electricity in the nature. During his tenure as senator cornyn noted, through 20002013, air quality in texas significantly improved with major reductions in pollutions like ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide despite very strong population growth. Ill let him talking about the growth they have had in texas. Governor perry cultivated wind energy, Development Development in the state of texas which is now the leader and also solar coming on so strongly. When we talk about all Energy Policy reads everything we can to have dependable reliable and affordable energy. And do it as clean as humanly possible. Hopefully the rest of the world will take the lead. I believe he possesses and alloftheabove Energy Policy. That will find the balance which is so important. I dont need to do any of yall sitting there working with your everyday finding that balance is very difficult. Very difficult, but we try. I believe rick will be someone who will work with you. We enjoyed it very much secretary earning monies, a great man and he worked across the aisle very well. I think youll find that reassurance from rick perry. I look for to rick serving. I think he will do a great job for not only the department of energy but for all of us in america. So that im proud to support my friend, my colleague rick perry. Thank you, senator manchin could we appreciate the comments. Both of you gentlemen, thank you for providing this introduction for governor perry. And now at this time i would ask you governor perry to please come forward. And before asking for Opening Statement i am going to administer the oath which is customary in hearings such as this one and im going to ask you the customary three questions. So at this time if you could raise your hand. The rules of the committee which apply to all nominees required that they be sworn in connection with her testimony. Raising your right hand, do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give to the Senate Committee on energy and Natural Resources shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth . I do. You may go ahead and be seated. Before you begin your statement, going to ask you three questions addressed to each nominee before this committee. The first is will you be available to appear before this committee and other congressional committees to represent departmental positions and respond to issues of concern to the congress . I will. And are you aware of any personal holdings, investments or interest that could constitute a conflict or create an appearance of such conflict, should you be confirmed and assumed office to which you be nominated by the president . [inaudible] spinning and are you involved or do you have any assets held in blind trust . I do not, senator. Thank you, governor perry. You may proceed with your statement. The mic not on . Already the committee is being wonderfully helpful and supportive here. And i found nothing but that during my time in each of your offices, some want to thank you for your hospitality. Madam chairwoman murkowski and, i want to say to each of you migrate thanks. Ranking member cantwell, thank you for your wisdom, your interaction. All the distinguished members of this committee, thank you for allowing me to come in and share with you, to let me listen to your concerns. It is a real honor for me to be here, to be president elect trump psalmody for the secretary of energy. As i said, this process has been extremely informative and it has been beneficial for me. The end of the discussions that weve had in your offices, in some cases over the phone afterwards, have been most important. I will suggest, the most important aspect of this process for me. I especially want to thank senator murkowski, senator cantwell again. You both spoke passionately and very frankly about the priorities of this country and for the things that affect Energy Policy. You may be from different political parties, but as i noted during those meetings, what you have in common, and both of you talked passionately about energy development, about the safety, about the reliability of Nuclear Stockpile. The vital role of our National Labs, critical importance of grid security. Unique situations in each of your states. And i might add, both of them talked very passionate about those issues without the benefits of notes. You know well the challenges and issues that are going to be facing the secretary of energy, if im confirmed, obvious i look forward to working with each one of you. Before i go further i want to recognize an individual who has already been recognize, but i want to add my very strong love and support to an individual who is been my greatest advocate, a person who has been with me every step of the way since a piano recital, senator franken, back in the late 1950s. You, you did know i was a pianist. I was going to bring that to your attention, sir. That is obviously my wife, i need it. Weve had quite a journey. I grew up on a dry land cotton farm 60 miles from the closest place that a postoffice and a a house that i just received electrification, received power from the Rural Electrification agency, all the way to today as i was being considered as the secretary of energy. With us today is also one of our pride and joyce, thats our daughter, and her new husband, naval officer, brad harrison. I arrived at this appointment with three decades of experience and elected office. I was a state representative. I was the agriculture commissioner. I wish of the tubular governor, for 14 years the governor of the state of texas lieutenantgovernor. During my three and half terms as governor, i state that created two point 2 million jobs. We added more people to our population most than any other state during that period of time. If it were a standalone country, it would be the 12th largest economy in the world. We are also nations leading Energy Producing state, not just in terms of oil and gas, as senator cornyn shared with you, but also wind energy. I have firsthand experience with the show energy boom that revolutionized American Energy with the state cleanup efforts to improve our environment as well. As governor i also learned that the management skills that you gain as senator mansion should with you, secretary king, you certainly know this, of being a governor. I have the executive experience necessary for leading an organization as large as the department of energy. From this experience i learned how Important Energy is to the american economy, and the great responsibility that we have to take care of what we have been given to protect our citizens. Im also, i should say, if i am so fortunate as to be confirmed, this experience will inform my priorities at the department. I am committed to keeping americans safe. Nuclear security is the largest portion of the department of energy portfolio. Its budget come if you would. I will be focused on continuing to protect and modernize the Nations Nuclear stockpile. As a former air force pilot during the days of the cold war, i understand the deterrent value of our Nuclear Weapons system and the vital role that the point in keeping the peace. Another aspect of security is ensuring the reliability of our electric grid against cybersecurity attacks. Im committed to undertaking enhanced security measures, where necessary, and assisting with Recovery Efforts if those are required, so that americans can depend on a stable source of power i will the governor of a coastal state in organizing american response personnel to handle disasters effectively and efficiently. If confirmed, i will advocate and promote energy in all forms, and that certainly includes our renewables. America has been blessed with vast Natural Resources and the technology to utilize them. Im committed to helping provide stable, reliable, affordable and secure sources of American Energy. And America First Energy Strategy is important to quit jobs and to grow the economy. I am a major proponent of maintaining American Leadership in the area of scientific inquiry. I support the academic and the Government Mission of basic research, even when you may not see the results of that for a generation. Our scientists and our labs are the envy of the world i look forward to visiting those labs this year. And if confirmed, learning even more about the unique work that they do. I have a strong record of aggressively courting leading Scientific Minds to bring innovation and job creation to my home state. Furthermore, i understand and am committed to the vital role of the department of energy that it maintain environmental cleanup. Specifically, cleaning up Nuclear Waste that is of the legacy of the cold war. I have experience of dealing with the difficult challenges of transporting and storing lowlevel waste in my home state of texas. I know this is a daunting task. Youve got 35 states that temporarily our housing waste from various nuclear programs. I look forward to working with the members of the committee to address the concerns many of you are hearing back home about Nuclear Waste facilities. In summary, im committed to modernize our Nuclear Stockpile, promoting and developing American Energy and all forms, dancing the departments Critical Science and technology mission, and carefully disposing of Nuclear Waste. Madam chairwoman come if i may image is limited that i have left, ive a couple of other issues like to touch upon. I have learned a great deal about the important work being done every day by the outstanding men and women of the department of energy. I have spoken several times to secretary moniz about the operation. Ive spoken to his predecessors. And if confirmed, my desire is to lead this agency in a thoughtful manner surrounding myself with the expertise on the core function of the department. My past statements made over five years ago about abolishing the department of energy did not reflect my current thinking. In fact, after being briefed on some of the vital functions the department of energy, i regret recommending its elimination. If confirmed, i will enter this role excited and passionate about advocating and advancing the Core Missions of the d. O. E. , drawing greater attention to the vital role played by the agency and hard work that men and women who dedicate themselves in pursuit of these missions. Second, let me speak to the issue of Climate Change. I believe the climate is changing. I believe some of it is naturally occurring but some of it is caused by manmade activity. The question is how we address in a thoughtful way that doesnt compromise Economic Growth. It affects the affordability of energy or american jobs. In texas we got a record of taking action to address environmental challenges including time of change, and despite this fastgrowing population, and i might add, one of the largest petrochemical Refining Industries in the world, we saw our climate and our air improve during that period of time. We reduced carbon output by 17 . Sulfur dioxide by 56 . Nitrogen oxide by 66 . We decommissioned 137 of these older, dirty burning plants, senator. I mean, we did it by using incentives to move to new technology, Clean Technology such as clean coal and Carbon Capture and underground storage. In houston there is 1 billion plan plan that will be opening soon using Carbon Capture and sequestration. We are also using that carbon thats then injected into wells for secondary and tertiary recovery operations. I signed a law into place to retrofit some 15,000 engines under the texas emissions reduction plan. And we provided incentives for energy efficiencies. Our willingness to develop natural gas and cat show formations have helped not only texas reduce its Carbon Footprint, but other states and mexico as well. But we truly advocated and all of the above strategy, reducing Carbon Emissions, not just through development of cleaner fossil fuels, but through the development of Renewable Resources as well but during my time as governor, texas to the National League in wind energy development, now produces more wind as senator cornyn reminded you of, then seven countries. Excuse me, five countries. When it comes to Climate Change, im committed to making decisions based on sound science but also take into account the Economic Impacts. We need an Energy Policy for the 21st century that is focused on promoting American Energy in all forms. I am committed to working with this committee and the Incoming Administration to do just that. Senators, this is an historic time for america and for the Energy Sector. And i would be honored to be a part of that. Thank you. Thank you, governor perry. I appreciate that you address, i know at least two matters of concern based on the statements that you have made previously, and im sure that there will be further questions directed to that, but i do think its also very important to recognize the work that has gone forward within the state of texas, as you have worked to not only embrace a growing population, provide for jobs and Economic Opportunity but at the same time working to address the issue of emissions and how you can bring on Additional Energy sources, both the traditional and our renewables. So i think its a good story and the story worth repeating. I want to focus my first round of questions on some alaska specific issues. And appreciate your attention to the. Senator cantwell mentioned that i am often heard stating that america is an arctic nation, and we are an arctic nation because of where alaska sits. And we are proud that we are an arctic nation. We have been struggling a little bit because there are some who i think you the arctic as something in isolation, something that is frozen in time, almost a snow globe that should sit on the shelf and we just shouldnt touch it. But as secretary king knows, as the cochairman of the arctic caucus with me, it is a very dynamic part of the world and a very dynamic part of our country. But understanding what is happening in the arctic is imperative, knowing the science, understanding the science is an imperative and we see much of this, of the department of energy. We also recognize that there are an incredible resources in the arctic. Certainly that could enhance this countries Energy Production if we are able to access them. So the commitment that i am seeking from you today is one where you would agree to work with me as well as the people of alaska, and really the country as an arctic nation, to bring industry, to bring science, to bring our local communities together to ensure that the u. S. Can continue to be a leader in the arctic as a relates to our Energy Production, as a relates to our sites, as it relates to understanding all that is in front of us, as an arctic nation. Spirit senator, you have my commitment as do the members of the committee to focus on the development of the various regions. Obviously you and i had a very lengthy conversation about the challenges that alaska and the native alaskans face from the standpoint of both the Economic Impact, the environmental impact. It is a unique area of our country, but the times i have visited there at the times i will visit in the future will help develop even better and understanding of, not only the challenges but the opportunities. And i look at this position, if im so fortunate as to be confirmed as secretary of energy, to not only use the agency and the vast, the brilliance of our National Labs. One of the things since 2012, in particular when i started spending time understand our National Labs, texas a m university, which is in my home state was brought into a competition to operate sandia labs. At that particular point in time, i speak for myself, and a really fun at about these laboratories. And the men and women in those laboratories of the extraordinary individuals, the Technology Side and the sciences of the department of energy. There are a fascinatingly large number of opportunities that we have on the economic side to make peoples quality of life come in your home state, for instance, better by bringing technologies that we may have an idea about today, and some that we havent even drink up yet, to the table, to commercialization, to affect your state, and this nation as a whole. So my record as governor of texas has been one to not only think outside of the box, do some things that people might not necessarily have associated with a republican governor, but to do it in a way that both sides of the aisle, and people who really dont lets get a tinkers damn about either political party, but want to see results, and thats what i will commit to you, to find those results that will have a positive impact on your citizens of alaska and of this country. I appreciate that commitment and i would commend to you and we can be that living laborato laboratory. As one of as our National Labs are. We had some extraordinary individuals with a ph. D in arctic living, individuals that have lived, the families have been there for millennia, and relying on the Indigenous Peoples as well as we work with our brilliant scientist in labs and around the country is very important but i look forward to spending more time with you speaking about his issues that are so pertinent to the development and sustainable, sustained ability of an environment. Senator cantwell. Thank you manager. Governor perry, i like several things you had to say. It was one thing i definitely want to bring up thats very concerning and that is that you sent as it related to Energy Strategy, we cannot as you said quote compromise Economic Growth. Well, i guarantee you today were compromising Economic Growth because of our overdependence on fossil fuel. It is having an impact on the Natural Resources economy in my state. Its having an effect on shellfish and the ability to feed. It is having an effect on the two most devastating fire seasons our state has set in the history of our state, burning up just on one indian reservation over 2 billion worth of timber. We have requested my colleagues in the college and i bet you a report that expect to be out this year that will tell you exactly how much this is costing the u. S. Government. I dont think the number will be in billions. Its its going to be higher than that. So my question is, edgy look at this agency, one of the things that i predicated my comments on is the level of science investment that needs to be made continue to do this transition. The Transition Team sent around a document to the department of energy basically trying to identify d. O. E. Responsibility related to, they said, climate meetings, attending framework conventions on Climate Change, things of that nature. Juxtaposed to the fact were getting hacked by the russians are the republicans in the house couldnt bother to pick up a cybersecurity bill and passed it, im trying to understand where you as Energy Secretary are going to have priorities. These are two different things. So i want to know your commitment to protecting these individuals and the scientific budget that goes along with them, and your willingness to make an investment in the effort of defending us, basically repudiating the comments of bring the hacking on, and instead make the commitment to pick up the mantle and defend our nation against russian attacks. Senator, that questionnaire that you referenced went out before i was ever selected as the nominee to sit before this committee. I didnt approve it. I dont approve of it. I dont need that information. I dont want that information. That is not how i manage. I have a history of working with people to find answers to challenges that face us. My commitment to you and the members of this committee is to obviously, not only reach across political aisles, but also to work with the men and women who i have an extraordinary amount of respect for at the department of energy, to find the solutions to these many challenges that we have, whether they are on the environment, whether they are economically focused, or otherwise. Do you plan to protect the science budget related to information on climate . Your question again. Do you plan to protect the Science Research at d. O. E. Related to climate . Im going to protect all of the science related, whether its to the climate or to the other aspects of what were going to be doing. You asked about cyber, and i will suggest to you d. O. E. Has a massive role to play in that. Its an area that also have a history with, senator, of being working with the private sector, working with, in my case, State Government entities. But the d. O. E. Will allow me to go to a new level, if you will, of engagement, to find the ways to protect. And ill be honest with you, senator. I dont care who it is, what players, whether its a formal statement whether it is a group that is loosely associated. That if theyre trying to penetrate into americans lives, whether its by the citizens or whether its at the highest levels of our government, you will see me engaged in an activity at the department of energy working across agencies, for that matter, working with the dod at darpa and arpae with roi. All those different agencies. I feel very comfortable that we have in our scientific laboratories and or private sector operations in the fertile minds of the men and women at the department of energy and the scientific side in particular. The technology and the ability to stop that cyber snooping, or for that matter, the intentions to do harm to americans by penetrating into our electric grid. My type visits by batista clip on you will protect the scientists and the science budget related to climate . Syndicate, im going to protect the men and women of the Scientific Community from anyone that would attack them, no matter what that reason may be at the department of energy. Thank you. Senator hoeven, and you will be followed by senator heinrich. Thank you, madam chairman. Governor perry, thanks for your willingness to serve and to i need annual family. Great to see you. Of course youre part of that service as well. So thanks so much, and welcome. I appreciate in Opening Statement you talked about all the different types of energy that are produced in texas because we need and alloftheabove Energy Policy for our country. We need one that is focused on empowering state rather than a federal one size that you understand that. I also appreciate that you brought up not only are you a leader of texas and producing fossil fuels like oil and gas and coal but youre also a leader in Renewable Energy. In my state actually produce 1 Million Barrels of oil a day. We are second only to texas in Oil Production but we also produce wind and biofuels and other renewables. And you talked about that, and i want to commend you on that. And what to bring up something we talked about when you came in to see me. And that is that technology really is the way forward as we develop all these sources of energy, not produces more energy or costeffectively but also with better Departmental Store to pick you talked about petrol nova, project are working on to capture and sequester co2, we have a project in the great plains where we take the same call you work with in texas. We produce synthetic natural gas with that colby recounted the future we put into oilfields are secondary oil recovery. We want to do more of that and i know you understand at us like asked you to come to north dakota to see her energy and Environmental Research center to see the market and you talked about the shale, the new technology. But we had projects to capture co2, Clean Coal Technology on both the front and called alan cycle that petrol nova ss exampe of that to retrofit plants as well. We need you to come out there and help us continue to develop and commercialize technology and asking you for your commitment to do that. Because its something that doesnt just benefit our state. It benefits our country, and beyond that as of the countries develop this technology it really is a global type of solution. Talk about or four minute and your commitment to help make that happen. Thank you. You do have my commitment to not only continue to work on those technologies to be commercialized, and they will come to your home state at the first possible moment. I think im going to be spending a lot of time traveling to your state over the course of the next well, how about West Virginia . Any chance you will be going to West Virginia . Just wondering. I think West Virginia thought i was an honorary citizen over there for a while over the last few years. Ive been to morgantown lots of times. But back to your salient point, senator, i am a big believer that one of the reasons that we have a responsibility to fund our basic research, and a lot of times we dont know what the outcome of that is going to be. We hope we know how its going to turn out. Senator risch, it may be a generation down the road on basic research. But without applied research we have a lot better idea about how it reaches fruition, how it can be commercialized. I saw that as the governor of texas. We helped create a fund, and again i dont get confused about the difference between federal government and State Government. You and i are both strong supporters of federalism, but my Life Experiences are going to affect the way that i operate as the sector energy, if i am confirmed. And one of those happens to be about investing in the technology they can be commercialized to improve peoples quality of life here at one of the things that senator sanders and i talked about in his office was someday i hope that he and i, and then host of other individuals, can stand up together with technology backing out of the department of energy that we are able to sell to the chinese to start making the environment in china better. I mean, thats the potential that they are. My home state and your home state where virtually changed in a lifechanging way with hydraulic fracturing. That technology had its genesis at the department of energy. So the concept of using agency, whether its on cybersecurity, whether its on new ways to use Natural Resources that we have, and the management of that, and one of the things i bring to you is my 14 years of managing the 12th largest economy in the world from the standpoint of efficiently and effectively putting programs into place and seeing a result of that action. And thats my commitment, senator, is on a daily basis i will have men and women who i trust, who have the expertise and have the authority to be able to implement these programs that can affect the citizens, not just of your state, but hopefully the citizens of this world. Thank you, governor. I think thats a good description of the opportunity that we have and i look forward to working with you. [inaudible] governor, welcome. As i see it one of the most critical jobs at d. O. E. Is the administrator of the National Nuclear safety administration, and i have been deeply concerned about press reports which indicate that this key leadership post literally the steward of our stockpile might be vacant during the president ial transition. As the question of interim leadership at nsa been resolved . Senator, thank you. I like you have concern about an orderly transition. The Nuclear Stockpile in our country is a bit different than almost anything else thats out there. So having men and women in place and a structure in place to give confidence and a surety, predictability to the people of this country and to the men and women of this committee is very important. That position obviously is one that has president ial nomination oversight. I have sat down with the general and had a good conversation with him, and have sent the message that it would certainly be my desire to have that continuity. It is in the president elects office now and hopefully we will see that type of continuity in those very important places. I want to thank you for your efforts on that. I think it would serve the new administration well if we have about 25 hours and 20 minutes to figure this thing out. And in an essay, other than, unlike other agencies, because of the way the law was written by my predecessor, senator pete domenici, you have to appoint those positions from people who observed that spec have served. So the pull is limited and i think we all want to see d. O. E. Succeed. We all want to see him in as a successful so you for your efforts on that. 2016, warmest year our planet has experience in human history. Its the third year in a row to break that dubious record, and you stated in your testimony that you believe quote you believe climate is changing, end quote. This should be about beliefs. In my view, it should be about data, it should be about evidence, it should be about peerreviewed scientific results. And stepping back from just climate i just want to ask you broadly, when you commit to using science as your guide when making policy at d. O. E. . Senator, my record as the governor of your neighboring state clearly shows that thats the case. Ill give you a couple of examples. Rely upon data when peoples lives are in jeopardy. It was one of the things that i became very well known for. I want to speak about hurricanes and the affect that they can have upon, its 5 00 one morning. I received the phone call that a particular storm, track was going to go directly up the houston ship channel, as a category five storm. I remember. And the devastation was massive. Were talking about over a Million People dead. Not an young people impacted. A Million People dead. Those were sobering moments in an individuals life. At that particular point in time we started a massive evacuation of Harris County in the houston area. That data happen to be, and fortunately, wrong for that particular storm. But the point is, i made decisions based on the most sound signs that i could find. I want to thank you and i know that the chair is going to cut me off if i dont use my time wisely but it want to sell behalf of the nearly 25,000 new mexicans who work at sandia, los alamos, at nnsa and d. O. E. I want to thank you for your statement as well. And regret for calling for the elimination of d. O. E. Thank you, senator. Thank you madam chairwoman. Governor perry, congratulations. Thanks to come to visit and listening to my concerns about the department. Id like to ask you about the departments socalled barters or transfers and we talked about the excess uranium which is certainly a component within the department of energy. These are the transactions in which the department trades some of its excess uranium for services that then the department gets for contractors but wasting a lot of is under the Obama Administration to the department uses this uranium because it refused to ask congress for the appropriations to pay for the contractors. But in the process, the department has in the past violated a number of federal laws. Its also flooded the market with tens of millions of pounds of uranium. So as a result of people that are out there producing the uranium in wyoming come in texas and in other states have ended up laying off workers, canceling projects. So if confirmed will you consider suspending the departments socalled barters of excess uranium into you can at least review the policy . Senator, i will commit to you that we will follow the law. And as you clearly demonstrated to me in our office at this particular point in time there some real question of whether law is being followed. I will spend the time becoming very familiar not only with the law but the impact that is happening. You made reference to one of the reasons from your perspective that it is happening is because of the budgetary, and again, during my 30 years of Public Service both as a young state represented on the Appropriations Committee and then obviously as governor of texas who had to put forward a budget every two years, i understand the budgetary process rather well. And the negotiations that go on and the prioritization that goes on. So hopefully you will see that type of activity from the department of energy from the standpoint of very appropriately engaged budgetary processes where you dont have to see programs that are important to you and the members of this agency being affected because of bad management or because of budgetary negotiations that maybe were not the smoothest that we would hope for. I would appreciate it was part of that commitment you would meet with the americans, the americas uranium producers. Essentially come up with a Longterm Management plan of excess uranium prior to authorizing any additional barters spewing senator, we will work for a closer with you and members of the committee to do just that. I want to turn to liquefied natural gas, lng. We talked about that sort a lot of it from wyoming, a lot from texas. Since 2010 the departments permitting process for lng exports has been i would say unpredictable. Last congress some of us on this committee and a bipartisan way including senator heinrich was just asking questions, we introduce legislation to expedite the departments permitting process. This committee, the entire Senate Passed legislation overwhelming bipartisan support. The house passed a nearly identical piece of legislation with again bipartisan support. So if confirmed what you commit to acting on the pending lng export applications . They are all piled up, and do it in a timely manner . Senator, i will follow the laws. I will follow the clear instructions that i see as Congress Goes forward. Obviously, working with the administration. My understanding from having conversations with president elect trump is that he truly is and all of the above supporter of American Energy, and to support, develop and promote that energy resource, liquefied natural gas being one of those. We are going to reintroduce the legislation and i would hope that you would work with me and with others and a bipartisan way so not just to ensure that you but your successors also, those who come after you, act on lng export application in a timely matter because with such an abundance of energy as we talked in this country. Uses energy as a weapon. Geopolitical weapon hooton uses energy. I believe we should be acting like the International Force that we are with energy so i could asked her commitment to help with legislation so that your successors will also follow the law. I will be available to work with you on any given day. Thank you. Congratulations again. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, senator barrasso. Senator cortez masto. Thank you. Governor perry, congratulations on your nomination. Welcome to you and your family to the committee. Thanks for taking the time to sit with me and talk with me. I suspect you know what the first question is going to be right out of the gate. This year senator heller and i introduced the Nuclear Waste informed consent act, and that requires the secretary of energy to receive consent from any state considered for highlevel Nuclear Waste repository before proceeding with development. And in 2011 at the president ial debate in las vegas, you came out in favor of consent in regard to Yucca Mountain. Are you, nevadans will not one apple tree right of 98 do not want it. Then they should not have it at the people of nevada ought to have the final say. Do you still support consent base siding for Yucca Mountain . Senator, as you know in 2011, i was a sitting governor and i made a statement about federalism. I still believe in it strongly. I think its important for the secretary of energy, and my role if im so fortunate as to be confirmed, to have that good working relationship with as many governors as i can, the citizens of those states. I havent also be a great believer of following the statutes and laws. So if you pass such, not only will i salute it, i will happily salute it. Well, let me ask you this because i know you have a relationship with our governor for just this week came out in his state of the state emphatically stating that any attempt to resurrect the illconceived Yucca Mountain project will be met with relentless opposition and maximum resources here also saying that continue down a path that seeks to force this unsafe and unwanted project on about is a waste of time and money and only gets the country for the way from solving its Nuclear Waste problem. And, in fact, on may 8 in 2014 on meet the press you criticize a onesizefitsall policy out of washington, d. C. And thats what we have here. So can you commit that you will continue to work with the governor, with the people of the state of nevada, with everyone who has concerns about the safety and health of siding a highlevel Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain, and took it those in Southern Nevada who will be harmed by it who have concerns about including those who live in sutherland . Senator, i am very aware that this is an issue that his country has been flummoxed for 30 years, and we have spent billions of dollars on this issue. And after i was asked to serve as a secretary of energy, i thought it would probably be wise to pick up the phone or meet facetoface with the two senators from nevada, and the governor, as you know, that i am personal friends with. And to make sure that you all were still pretty much on the same page of the hymnbook. And i know it doesnt surprise you at all, you are. And so i respect that position. I understand where you all are coming from. Im going to work very closely with you and the members of this committee to find the answers to these challenges that we have, and hopefully this is the beginning of seeing real movement, real management of an issue that i think no longer can set and the use as a political football. One that must be addressed. And i think that we can find a solution, both in the interim and in the long term of our Nuclear Waste. I appreciate your comments. Im going to hold you to your word because it today you said you rely on data when peoples lives were at stake and that you make decisions based on sound science. Im hoping in this instance youre going to the same thing. I know my time, im running out here, but i look forward to another route to ask additional questions. But thank you for your comments. Thank you. Senator cassidy. Hey, governor, how are you . Hi, doctor. Listen, this is something that pertains to both our states, and there is a. We have the Obama Administration and Breitbart News on the same page as i want ask your opinion on this. Theres something in louisiana called the Lake Charles Methanol plant, and the Administration Just approved some Loan Guarantees. About half the project, still 1. 8 billion i think in private capital. What this does it takes petco, it takes everything including Carbon Dioxide as opposed to releasing the Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. Catches it, send it to east texas for enhanced oil recovery. Using kind of oil we know Networks Technology but bring it to scale. Your administration will be taking over but again this is something both the right and the left have seen two embraced. Your thoughts on knowing that you may not know the particulars but just in concept to the idea that there be an Loan Guarantee that would both Great American jobs but also capture Carbon Dioxide to enhanced oil recovery. Senator, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share with you, i dont know the deep particulars of this on the service that appears to make sense. Your observation that if both supported by both sides of the aisle would seem to make that a relatively easy decision to continue to go forward with, but that said, ive got that history of investing, working with the members of the legislature in the case of my time as the texas governor, the speaker, the lieutenant governor, a panel of experts that refer to these projects to us for approval or not. And that history i hope we give you comfort that im a big believer that we have a role to play boat in basic research obviously but also in that applied research, to bring new technologies, new commercialization, new Economic Development opportunities to this country. And so you have my commitment to come take a look at that project, get to know it firsthand. But my instinct is that thats the type of programs that the department of energy should be engaged with that have really concrete, successful in the results. Let me ask you this because im sorry i was in another hearing, but i understand youve been speaking about texas record about expanding jobs as well as decreasing emissions. One thing my office has been looking at is this direct relationship between Worldwide Manufacturing moving to china and a Worldwide Growth in emissions. As one example, since 20042013, chinas share of Global Manufacturing has risen from 112 to onefourth pentagon from being the 19th emitter of Greenhouse Gases to number one. I told folks that if President Trump is successful ever turning manufacturing to the United States when we will have an bimetal standards perhaps capturing Greenhouse Gases certainly socks and knocks with the chinese dont seem to bother with, as well as using Clean Natural gas, Nuclear Renewables as opposed to their electricity, well have more of an impact on global Greenhouse Gas emissions than any other arrangement. Knowing that you comment on the present but im sorry i wasnt here. Just like your thoughts on that. Senator, you know im a bit of a competitor. Jerry, excuse me, governor jerry brown you should not be happy with me showing up in california to recruit businesses from california to texas, and maybe i might have showed up in one of your states as well, but competition is a good thing. And i think the competition they can occur with the United States with tax and regulatory policies in place, to bring manufacturing back on shore is a good thing. I also think it will have the added benefit, senator, of forcing china to make some changes in how they do, how they do their business. And if we could see that type of Tech Knowledge he and the type of effort, that type of Competitive Pressure is the will to places like china, then we have served the citizens of this world well. Thank you. I yield that. Thank you. Thank you cannot interpret welcome could welcome and congratulations, governor perry and welcome to your family as well. Any chance to talk with you in my office about basically applied research on a number of different fun and i appreciated what he said the nfl is what youre saying now in terms of reporting both efforts to bring these new technologies to commercialization as well as doing our basic research. I should tell you and talking to the president that the university of michigan, dave indicated that your universities in texas have indicated your support for these important efforts of basic research and so on. A couple of things. I talked with you about the facility for isotope means that she can universities state with tenure construction project is going to end up with the worlds most powerful nubians facility that will lead than new National Defense and Environmental Technology as well as medical technologies. We need to have your continued support for that. We are in the middle of 10 years of federal funding, federal state funding and i would like to ask you if youll support our efforts to bring this to completion. Senator, and i really enjoyed your intellectual engagement and advocation for me on that particular project. Those are exactly the types of basic research that didnt turn into applied research and quality of life things that ive had great joy and honor to be involved with while i was the governor of texas. We went from no manufacturing of drug in the state of texas, legal drugs, prior to the start of 2210 years later being able to see vaccines manufactured to address pandemic events. Those are the types of things that change the world. The project to which you share has that same potential to literally change the world and a powerful and positive way. So the idea that i am kind of foundational in that type of thinking is there. I look forward to learning more about it, too coming up in visiting this site with you. And then prioritizing both with this committee, with the congress and the administration that this is the type of programs that not only we should be engaged with that can make a real difference in the quality of life and Economic Life or hopefully both as we go forward. I appreciate that. Let me take another step, which is department of energy has to play a very Important Role with manufacturers and publicprivate partnerships on a number of fronts that are very, very important. The Manufacturing Sector constantly 5 of energy usage when we look in transportation, the largest channels today, no surprise his trucks, big vehicles. D. O. E. Has a super Truck Program because we know that in terms of research and technology development, we really want to decrease Carbon Emissions and be able to decrease energy. You have to go where it is. There is a very important area for the office of Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy has funded a number of what we call manufacturing hubs. One is the institute for advanced composite manufacturing innovation. Just as we look at things for an American Company here, forward with their f1 15 series, f. 150 truck has gone to a aluminum composites, taken 700 pounds out of the way of the chart, which affects their fuel economy. So these are all incredibly important. But im concerned about is this morning i believe you that we support these projects. My concern is that we are now hearing in the press that the white house and the Transition Team using heritage foundation, budget proposals are proposing i would quote to roll back advance Scientific Computing research to 2008 levels, eliminating the office of electricity, the office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy which im just not talking about and scrapping the office of fossil energy which focuses on technologies to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions. And so, how do you see your role, youre coming into a new position where we are talking about massive cut in the kinds of things that you have advocated for coming years, supported and your role as governor that are critical to the future of the economy and the lowering emissions than creating more efficiencies. If we are really going to do all of that, it needs to be the kinds of things youve been talking about this morning and yet we just have a new statement that we are talking about massive cut in the Energy Department. Governor perry, senator stabenow is telling me my time has expired, so if you can just respond very briefly. Senator, all of us having been in the business we have been in for the years that we have know that there are always a lot of a lot of statements, sometimes just because its on the internet, its not true. I cant answer whether thats true or not. What i can tell you is i know that from my purse active that moving America Forward on the supercomputing side for instance, if the gale is incredibly important for this countrys security and i have no questions at all about whether or not the Trump Administration is going to be very supportive of keeping america strong and free in the technologies that come out of d. O. E. In many cases theyre going to play a very, very Important Role. I will be an advocate for that. I will be in there in advocating for these types of things. Im not going to tell you im going to be 1000 successful and not, but i can assure you and people who know me and who have worked with me know if my commitment to making sound science, economics science connected together because at the end of the day they make great economic sense and it makes great quality license. Senator james. Governor kerry, welcome. Your beautiful family behind you. Is my best days work. Yes, sir. If i was in your chair, i would make sure i had Marcus Littrell guarding my success well. Great to have an american hero. In his time brother. We were wondering about that. Just in case. I have complete confidence truly and youre going to work to restore this balance that i think the American People seek between fossil fuels and Renewable Energy investment and regulation. As they say in texas, we say in montana, it a blend of George Strait and john denver. That is a malady that we need right now in this nation and i think that is lacking frankly and president obamas department connecting to restore that balance. Thank you or considering this nomination. Governor perry, in our meeting we discussed was going on and small town in montana called coal strata. This plant is the lifeblood of the little town, two dozen people, 767 of those folks directly employed by that operation. Generates enough electricity to power 1. 5 million american homes. And as you know, units one and two i scattered to close due to environmental litigation and under this job killing dp a power plant. The other two units are also at risk in fact, if that is done at the university of montana. They said the epa powerplant would kill 7000 jobs in our state, 500 million in lost revenues, 140 million of lost tax revenues. With a legislature right now meeting in montana once had a 300 million surplus in the governor and legislature sort out how you make in meet because the surplus is gone. In montana with the closure of these plants will go from being a Net Energy Exporter to now having to become an energy importer. I think thats a tragedy. These are regulations coming out of the epa, but i do believe the department of energy under your leadership to do big things to protect his future. We discussed the crow tribe in montana. They have a 35 Unemployment Rate right now. We lose those cold jobs of that reservation and the Unemployment Rate goes north of 80 . And this is poverty in rural america. In fact, we have an Energy Conference here about a year ago and we had some protesters they came and they had excised that said keep it in the ground, referencing coal. 12yearold evelyn pocock, daughter of the chairman of the tribe quietly walked up to the protesters and said, you know, if you keep it in the ground, my people are going to start. That is whats at stake right now. I am concerned of this administration doesnt do anything to protect their existing coal fleet, many mac tenants will lose their jobs. Our state will lose its tax revenues and power grid will become less secure and less reliable. I sat in our meeting that i welcome your personal attention of this issue and i do appreciate your commitment. I know youll be traveling a lot when youre the new secretary of energy. I appreciate you visiting this Community Since the first 10. Some of the ways to protect their existing fleet and a flood of energy are to facilitate research that can improve efficiencies at coal plants and investment in Carbon Capture utilization of storage technology. I am concerned we have a real choice. We can meet in america with this technology or we will see this to the chinese. My question is will the d. O. E. Support investments in Carbon Capture to use storage as well as other policies that will keep americas coal fleet running including coal strip so we can continue to use this most vital resource. The next senator, i look forward to coming back to montana and spending some quality time with the men and women who are being affected by the decisions that we collectively have made in the city that affect their lives. You have very eloquently and passionately shared with this committee and with the world the challenges that we have. I remember well a decade and a half ago when there was an individual who traveled the country and i think made a pretty good living giving a speech about peak oil, it was all done. He didnt know what the answer was for the alternative, that he basically said were done. But because the technology they came out of d. O. E. , hydraulic fracturing, the worlds been changed. And the worlds been given a resource that weve been able to use to help lower the Carbon Emissions. Im talking about natural gas. I will suggest that sometimes forgets my load in our thinking and the goat either or. And so, coal is bad. But in the ground. When the fact is i am certain. I feel positive that some scientists, some incredibly capable man or woman, either at the d. O. E. Or in one of our universitys laboratory has technology to be able to use coal and away that is friendly, that is appropriate and that can keep that little girls family said and warm and with the hope for the future. Today ,com,com ma that is what we are all about. We signed up for this to make a difference in peoples lives. And you have passionately talked about that today. That is my commitment, not just you, but everyone in this room and on this committee, that i am going to do everything i can to push the envelope, to think outside of the box, to come up for the answers to the challenges we face as a country. That is obviously one of them, making sure that the people at hand now thats being managed and they are starting to see some things really happen out there. Giving them hope that its not just going to be another 30 years of the federal government kicking the can down the road. That is what im committed to, senator. Thank you on the governor. Thank you, governor. Senator hirono. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Aloha. Fortunately unfortunately i only have a minute. I frame the questions elicit responses from you and i hope youll stay with a. Thank you so much. Governor, you have talked about pursuing and all of the above Energy Strategy of and as senator stabenow just mentioned and i also am aware that this morning we learned that the term Transition Team intends to propose eliminating the departmedepartme nt of energys office of Renewable Energy, office of electricity. Which focuses on technology to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions and make other massive cuts to your department. It is hard to see how we can pursue and all of the above strategy is so much as the departments all of the above capabilities are nominated. My question is you support these cuts . Yes or no. Senator, maybe theyll have the same experience i had them forget they said that. We are counting on you. [laughter] we are counting on you to educate the incoming president. Moving on. [laughter] so you also stated having educated yourselves very that the climate is changing and when it comes to Climate Change and commit to making decisions based on sound science and also takes into account Economic Impact. Weve heard a lot this morning about making sure there is a balance between what we need to do with regard to our energy future. Does the Economic Impact include the cost of not doing anything to address Climate Change . Absolutely. Its the reason i took those steps i took as the governor to lower those emissions. They might thank you. Hawaii as recently as 2006 relied on imported fossil youll for 92 of its energy needs. So Research Technical assistant in grants, particularly the program from the u. S. Department of energy have been instrumental in supporting a wide shifter is locally produced Renewable Energy. In fact, hawaii has the most ambitious Renewable Energy goals in the entire country because you want to become 100 energy selfsufficient for electricity by 2045. Can a state of hawaii count on your continued support from the department of energy as it seeks to become Energy Independent and a leader in the Clean Energy Economy . Yes. Thank you. Finally. I am very troubled by recent reports that the president elect Transition Team as nonas the administrator and deputy manus writer of the National Nuclear administration, nsa to expand their Service Testing rich on it. Thisll be the first time in nsa 16 year history that Senior Leadership will not be kept for the incoming and a smooth transition, but i wonder whether this is an area we can afford to not keep. We commit to a continuity of staff to ensure department to manage our Nuclear Weapons stop file. Senator, i am not concerned at the continuity of protecting our stockpile is going to be in place. As i said earlier, we have sent the message. We have interviewed the existing staff. I dont think anyone would say here, i hope not anyway and say you will keep every person that their lives over there without interviewing them, having interaction. I will suggest to you by 14 years of governing texas and being the ceo of the 12th largest economy in the world, i know about identifying good talent, putting them into place and i will interview appropriately. As i shared the final decision on a president ial appointment. So i also understand one of the reason texas success and why is brad adoption of Renewable Energy is a goal that the states that inmate team 99. Hawaii has a similar goal. In 2012 i called for the National Renewal standard. Setting a goal gives the dirt assert me to make the kind of investments needed to meet the goals that by a large state like texas. Would you support our National Renewable energies entered provided that it can achieve the achievable baseline gander at. You know my decision on federalism and not onesizefitsall accepting gym socks doesnt work that well. Thats fair. If youre going to leave it up to the states, would you at least continue to support safe efforts . Absolutely. I will talk about the wisdom of using their universities, using their private sector, the department of energy were fit to come up with technologies that moves forward their states positions from the standpoint of renewables were fit and, where it makes sense and ill be happy to give them the roadmap on how to do that. Thank you. My time is that. Thank you unamended chair. Welcome to the energy. The process of banks as well been here to support you on a follow up on what senator dave talked about. Its important to recognize their places across the country that battery to colorado, maker colorado, dealt to colorado. These are places a lot of people may never hear of, the place is dramatically affected by our government, places her by over regulations. They are places who are out of work because of the government that is baseless to them that had real consequences at the dinner table. Heres the cold regulation, a wind regulation because thats not all but the department of energy does it have made the no role in certain of those areas. Certainly the epa has affected greatly western slope of colorado, certainly the department of the interior has affected the jobs created as part of our all of the above Energy Strategy in this country. Even the department of agriculture has affected our ability to produce affordable energy, whether its National Grasslands in areas of the western slope. I would encourage as you said in the cabinet and the cause for the country would talk about the impact this has had, know that one agency has a tremendous impact on the work they are doing and it shouldnt be the epa out against this part of colorado and interior department and a big way that has real impact on the people of our country. Thank you for commitment to work with those tangled webs of overreach that has led people out of work and her people in our state of colorado. We recognize the need to protect our great outdoors. We talk about how we can make sure its better tomorrow than it is today. We have to recognize those people in montrose cant all be trained to install solar panels. You and i have had discussions about them Energy Policy. The sixth rank over the past couple years. The leadingedge of the blade manufacturing, one key component of that is National Laboratory in colorado. This is a nearly billion dollars Economic Impact for every 1 dollar invested at the department of Energy Secures about five additional dollars in privatesector spending. Its known for its commercialization taking projects from the lab to the marketplace, ready to be a part of our energies there. The first aid on the committee and the end you have an early invitation to visit them now. And energy mix. I look forward you are very enlightening. Those are obviously the types of technology of applied research that can then be commercialized that we have a role to play engaging in. I look forward to a long visit there. Thank you. Obviously some of the work we are doing with grid modernization efforts to the supercomputers they have and across the country of grid modernization, Energy Efficiency. The Energy Facility located at a Research Center with private energy in the private sector is using to modernize for integration of private and Public Research efforts on wind, solar, biofuels. Would you continue the work being done on grid modernization efforts. The night yes, sir. The two areas that will have a role to play, i would suggest Going Forward without harming deep knowledge of the programmatic line items there. But obviously developing that next level of supercomputing as its impact upon the grid in both heartening and protecting the grid. Both of those are going to play a very Important Role as we go forward. Thank you, madam chair. Senator manchin. Continuing to want to serve and i hope thats the case. Coming from an energy state, the lights will come on behalf of such. But well keep our food from parachute. I had a person say i dont know why you all use coal in West Virginia. When its used more electricity . That tells you what we are dealing with. I really tells you the scope of what we are dealing with. I want to put it in dave because sitting where i sat and trying to depend on the Energy Policy for everything, im for all the wind, solar, renewables and everything. They have to be rational and practical. Where does our base vote come from . People know what im talking about. I suggest everything ive talked about. Your refrigerator works anyone at, washer goes when you want to. Youve got to have something that will work 24 7. Dealmaking in this country that gives you baseload today is nuclear. Gas is coming on as baseload, but until they get the pipeline coming on not have anything you want. Maybe in washington because other than not, a lot of us dont get it. So im trying to look at a rational position. So i said we are talking about all the cuts in everything and i really appreciate your answers. They are really good. You will look at whatever you have. Whatever money you have to work with. All im asking for is proportionate of how youre going to spend research and technology. The mix we have right here in energy. Coal and natural gas in 2015 with 66 of the energy. Coal and natural gas. Nuclear 20 . Renewables, 13 . The budget for 2017 and they wonder why they have authored this. 66 is supposed to calm from coal and gas. The research they committed under 4. 5 billion. That is 13 . Nuclear is produce 20 . 994 million. That is 20 . 20 proportional. 13 and only get a return on energy. 75 . Its not going to be a baseload. The wind at night. You do is your electricity. Until we get the new technology, you better take care but you got got. I thats basically with this mix, came a look for more of a proportionate mix so we can do it better. Senator, what you have my commitment to install so backed up by my record. Whos not afraid to get outside of the box amok at things two days jury decisions on sound science and interesting with that. And sometimes size gets it wrong. Again, we had a lot of people come and tell us in early 2000 that we found all the oil we were going to find. We found out that wasnt the case. Im committed to analogy above policy with the knowledge and the history of being an individual that believes in finding more efficient, more effect did more positive impact and technologies. Real quickly. The only thing im saying is we get to get the beat out of us, doing the heavy lifting a dirty word. They didnt natural gas. And nobody likes it. They sure as heck use it. They say we cannot make it cleaner. When you dont have any commitment from the federal government to do what they said they wanted to give us the money to find the next Technology Come in the next research that we can get the next level, then dont continue to berate us because youre not going to do it any other way. We will do it better if you work with us. Dont get confused at the previous administration. From the standpoint from the standpoint of being an individual who has promoted those sources of energy that can drive an economy and at the same time help our environment. I have a record of doing that, senator. You can expect if im so fortunate as to be confirmed by this committee, that same commitment, but also that same action and activity. Appreciate that. Look forward to working with you. Thank you, senator manchin. Senator flank. Thank you good great to hear from you and i just want to followup on a conversation i had there as well. And i often hear from electric consumers with the western area power administration. The customers in a rural coops and districts that need to keep their electric rates low. Theyve been concerned with their transparency as some of the spending thats been going on in some of the im obligated trade balances and the balances they have and why those havent resulted in a lowering of rates. Just yesterday i sat down with administrator gabriel for a nap date and their numerous internal audit. Can you commit to work with me. We will commit to work with you to make sure they follow the statute and the laws and the cons to tuition and not caught sight of those balance. If you ever see the agency participating in Something Like that, i now expect a phone call from you. Thank you. I appreciate that. Arizona is home to the nations Largest Nuclear plant in the Nuclear Policy is adventurous to any western arizona. The Nuclear Power Industry Needs a resolution and what will d. O. E. Do under your leadership to bring some resolution to that issue. Senator, as ive made in an earlier remarks, both to the Ranking Member and the number is that the whole at the time kicking the can down the road im dealing with this issue, michael will be those days are over, that we can have a thoughtful conversation, a productive conversation where the citizens of your state and those that have these 35 different states and their repositories today. Not by their desire, but by the inaction of the federal government over the course of the decade that we can in fact number one by making decisions here, but cannot alternatives, by making a real commitment to clean up the environment in the states and truly find both the interim and the longterm storage answers to this extremely difficult. Situation. Thank you. Im encouraged to see that new technology, the small modular reactors. In what ways can d. O. E. Work with the private sector . I know that their companys new scale power, obviously need to work with the Nuclear Regulatory commission on this. How can d. O. E. Further this research and speed the adoption of some of these new technologies . Again, my historical engagement with universities as a governor and the relationship of 11 senators who were governors and their counterparts in their state. Hopefully we can find not just the area and d. O. E. , but also a third partner that i think is very important and that their universities and the scientists and men and women better they are. I find the entire cons. At the small modular reactors as a fascinating, as one of the alternatives with a conversation with. But again, i will go back to say well move forward with the expedition until we find the answer and are willing to address this issue of dealing with the ways that we have in the state today. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, senator flake. Senator franken. Thank you so much for coming into my office. Did you enjoy meeting me . Last nights i youre as much fun on my diet since you were on your couch. Well [laughter] may i rephrase that, as there . Please, please. Zero my lord. [laughter] well, i think weve found our saturday night live sound bite. Lets move on. One of the fun things on the couch was when you said [laughter] at the shell energy boom owed a lot to the department of energy. And its almost gotten sick of me singing. You make a great validator. We talked about this. We know that you agree the department of energy was an enormous back to her and the shale boom. I would suggest to you technologies that were moved forward at the d. O. E. That doors are universities and the private sector that can implement it together that allowed for the shale revolution to occur. The private sector had a substantial amount to do with that. George mitchell who was a texas geologist was a great example of an individual who heard science is a man or his private sector friends time after time so youre wasting your time and money. But he believed in it. I give as much credit to him as i do the d. O. E. , but i think the d. O. E. Has a role to play. As a matter of fact, the Vice President that his company, dan stuart said this in a quote. He only started it and other people took the ball and ran with it. You cannot diminish d. O. E. s involvement. And really the reason i bring this up, not just to lord that over my colleagues who doubted me, but also to point to the importance of research for the d. O. E. In solving all these problems that we have. Thats why these reports on cause and d. O. E. Are true. Things in the new administration seems to be fluid shall i say. I want to go to Climate Change. As we discuss in my office, i believe that Climate Changes in the essential guide in one of the most serious challenges of our time. And your 2010 but come you claim quote we have been experiencing a cooling trend that was Just Announced yesterday that the year before the saucer record in the year before that first time in three years in a row. In 2014, and i dont believe that we have a subtle science by any sense of the imagination with a pollutant doing disservice to the country. I believe a disservice to the world. Now i see in your testimony that your views have been evolving on this. You know the man is responsible for some Climate Change. How much Climate Change do you think the science shows is due to human activity . Senator, fire for me to be sitting before you today and claiming to be a climate scientist. I will not do that. I do think youre ever going to be a climate scientist. But youre going to be the head of department of energy. Thats correct. Ill hire a really good scientists. 97 of climate Scientists Say that this is real and that we are going to be approaching at the end of the century 3. 5 celsius increases in temperature , which would be disastrous and i dont want that for my grandchildren. Let me put that number and contact. A recent survey found that 95 pressure that cigarettes cause cancer. So it seems to me that science on Climate Change is pretty definitive. So i just dont want, and i know my time is out. Is the economy in addressing Climate Change are at odds at all. As you saw in your state, people stay in your communities that have waned. Those towers are bid. They are tall. On the young people can go up those towers and keep young people in your community. And we owe it i dont know if youve grandchildren yet. They were just married in october. My time is over, done, done. Thank you. Need a little levity every now and again. Lets go to senator resch for some more. We are going to ignore that, senator. Thank you for being willing to do this. First of all, you earlier apologize for reading for businesses and other states in your governor. Theres former governors on this committee. In that regard, you dont ever have to apologize for that. We have all sinned in that regard in our former allies to miss him quite successfully. No apologies necessary. Arguably, you are taking over arguably the most complex and broad reaching Agency Within the government. Now you might say that d. O. E. May be god a broader stand in different ways. As far as reaching this is probably as broad reaching as it gets and is incredibly complex. Your soontobe predecessor with a Nuclear Physicist as you know. We actually got along quite well but in any event, you dont have to be a Nuclear Physicist as to run this agency. I senator when you become governor, your success or failure depends on your own ability with an incredibly reaching range of services for the people in your state. And it all depends on the people you bring around it obviously because youve got to have experts around you. Believe me in this agency youre going to need lots of experts to do that. We have in idaho the idaho National Laboratory which is the birth place, the first light bulbs that Nuclear Energy were done so there at the lab. It is today the late laboratory on Nuclear Energy. Ive got to tell you after he met with u. S. Really impressed with how youre getting your arms around it. Theres a lot of different laboratories in the country. Most americans have no idea what they do for the complex via them. I was very impressed with the way you get your arms around them. A couple things you and i talked about and i appreciate your commitment to and that is also in addition to its Nuclear Mission are now becoming one laid laboratories altogether dealing with cybersecurity and control systems issue that is incredible vulnerability here in america. Can you give me your thoughts on not publicly . We talked about it privately. He should have the ability to talk about this publicly. Thank you, senator. Thank you for relaying the interesting juxtaposition that governors have when it comes to managing kind of complex issues that they face. Again, i go back i think that is a very good prerequisite and foundation. Ernie moniz and i are good friends. Weve known each other Bill Richardson interest and late in the history of the agency, there have only been two Nuclear Physicist that were the heads of the agency there were a governor or to. The issue from my perspective is being able to manage and prioritize what is important in finding those individuals who are some of the best in the business. You may not be able to bring them into government, but you can draw them in to the process. A great many times because of their patriotic commitment to this country. And so on the cybersecurity side, that will be my intention is to dull fine men and women in our universe is that the dob. And as you know, our National Labs, they are the repository of some of the extraordinary brilliance in the world. They truly are the crown jewel of this country from an intellectual and particularly scientific standpoint. Putting together a team, obviously working with other agencies. Darpa will play an Important Role. And coordinate across agency will really be important as well and to have the support, not only the administration, but of congress and the private sector on what i consider to be one of the great challenges we have in the short span because this arena is going to change in a hurry. Just like the supercomputing died. We have allowed ourselves to get a bit behind in supercomputing. As a matter of fact, that is one of the areas that dovetails to the cybersecurity side is the ability to move forward to that next generation of supercomputing, the exit gala models that are going to be out there. So you will see the same commitment that i made, that i had, that we had success in my home state of going literally from zero to the manufacturing of vaccines for pandemic events. I mean, i know that we can do this and i know that we have the expertise. We need to management. We need the resources, but we can successfully put into place cybersecurity product says that not only secure our private conversation to that matter, but the more important side of things as sorry but old grad and our military capabilities. Well said. Im sorry we didnt get a chance to talk about the small modular are. I know you are a real fan of that being developed and redeveloped officebased batteries that produce the space batteries that go out on these missions. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator resch. Senator kaine. At the risk of beating the fraternal order of governors into the ground, i remember meeting you 16 years ago tomorrow on the steps of the capital standing next to one another at george w. Bushs inauguration. The amazing thing is that theyre one us has aged a day. I want to caution you this is the only committee or you can use were sequestered at a positive response. Yes, sir. People have talked about your cut. You will be called upon to lead in the next several weeks and. The cuts that are being proposed if indeed the media reports it this morning are devastating and go to the heart of what weve been talking about today. I hope that the people that are proposing these cuts are. Senator holden used the Term Technology really is the way forward. Youve talked about it. Weve talked about the role of the department of energy and to be just moments ago you were talking about advanced computing. That is one of the items on the cutting board apparently, which is absolutely beyond me, eliminate the office of electricity, office of electrical fossil energy. This is absolutely not in terms of the future of energy in this country. It seems to me dearly has essentially two functions. One is the Nuclear Enterprise which you discussed. The other is research in basic research that can then be taken by the private sector and turned into the revolutionary changes that are changing our society whether its in tracking our renewables fracture energy, whatever it is. You are going to have to really do some hard pushing back en masse because assuming this is true, i find it almost tells rarity to be Cutting Energy research at this moment in time. Will you commit to me that you are going to be lionhearted in this endeavor to protect your agency because they are cutting the legs out from under you. Senator, and i have a rather interesting background, not unlike yours defending budget votes from both from those in the know and sometimes people they make it hard to believe the people recommended these cuts are in any kind of know. All allow your statement to stand. My point is i know what the department of energy should be good at. I have spent enough time making myself away or of talking to individuals inside the agencies, individuals who have been there before. I have to cut you off because the chair is so rigorous about her time, but i really hope you will be strong and i think youve indicated she will. An entirely different subject. But on several different times of an elegy x port. Heres whats of concern to me. We have now got the total production of natural gas in the country is about 75 bcs today. Weve already approved 14, which is about 20 of the total production for export in the . Is 71 of the production for export. If that happens, there is no way in the world. This congress cannot repeal the law of supply and demand and theres no way in the world problem not drastically and significantly affect domestic prices, which has been one of our damages visavis the rest of the world in terms of bringing manufacturing back in thing in our economy. The natural gas act back in the 38 saves for the departmedepartme nt of energy to issue a permit, it has to be in the Public Interest. By request of view is to be sure the Public Interest the Public Interest definition includes affect on domestic prices. We give me that commitment . Senator, what i will commit to is finding ways to make sure that we dont artificially affect supply and demand. But i will suggest to you is that there were decisions made in washington d. C. That have artificially affected supply and demand and its been on the supply side. I would ask the epa and department of the interior whether its congress on the tax and regulatory side taking effect to make sure we have the ability to both supply because the demand is going to be there. If we produced it in america, and make abundant good sense to me for us to sell it to the world. Unless doing so significantly increases domestic is, which is exactly what happened in australia where they are now exporting almost all of their natural gas and their natural gas domestically tripled in price. That would be a disaster for the economy of this country. And i totally understand that, but my point is when we look at this entire issue globally, to make sure it that we are not making decisions here that is affecting most of the ability to supply so that you can keep the demand addressed in a thoughtful and fair way that does not try the cost to where he Manufacturing Base, for instance, of which we are trying to bring america back in a strong and powerful way would be effective in a negative way. Lowprice natural gas is an advantage. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. In an apartment. Governor perry, thank you their willingness to step up and serve it in a different way for sacrifices that involves the exaggerator meeting. It is simply not the conference table as your one on the couch from a colleague with minnesota. But it was interesting and we talked about a number of topics. One was the importance to my state and our nation of having a uranium enrichment capability and act in ohio. We have a planned that produce enriched uranium and till about 2000 at that point or shut down. As the gaseous diffusion method now been cleaned out. When president obama ran in 2008, promise to accelerate the cleanup. Pretty much every fight just to get the cleanup in place is gone from 2024 times range to a 2044 and eight, costing tax years williams for by stretching it out and not be more efficient about it. Im very disappointed in the department of energy for their inability to follow through on their commitments to the plant and frankly its really difficult for people who work there. They never know when their next paycheck is going to be there. It usually happens around chris this time if it did this past christmas. Would you be committed to looking at this cleanup effort in a more logical way helping to ensure we have the funds necessary which again provide security to these families, but importantly lowers the cost of the taxpayer by getting the cleanup done. Senator, i will commit to you that is educated on this issue as i can and must expeditious way that i can manage it and Employee Management skills and capabilities. Again, without knowing the deep details of this, but my instinct tells me that this is an issue of execution of Good Management. We as americans, my question for you there is, would would you also be willing to look into this issue and im not going to ask you for a specific commitment today for restarting this because i you need to research it but i hope it will be given your personal attention and consideration because we need to have enrichment capabilities and this country. Do you have a very response to that. I will give it the appropriate and thorough study. In addition, i will say the enrichment of uranium in the United States is a National Security issue and one that i take very seriously. I look forward to working with you to not only understand this issue better, but if it is concluded, as i suspect it will, that this is indeed a National Security issue that needs to be addressed, either either by the United States congress and or the administration, you will have a willing partner in making sure the doe does it in the most efficient, most effective and most economically feasible way that we cant. It is a National Security issue, there is no question about it, but also because we need uranium to the Nuclear Stockpile and we need to have it for our nuclear navy. I know we have stockpiled now, but we dont have the ability to be able to quickly enrich. It probably takes a decade to get this back up and going if we shut it down altogether and an enormous cost to the taxpayers. One must question, we talked talked a lot about Energy Efficiency in our meeting. They had taken 22 million cars off the road by 2030, its an equivalent of that, we also passed at 82 15. Both the Ranking Member and the chair have been at the forefront on this issue. I would like your commitment that you would work with us on Energy Efficiency. Yes, sir, use me as you see fit. Thank you. Thank you senator portman. Senator duckworth. Thank you madam chair. Thank you for being here governor perry. I look forward to your visit to two of the doe. While i served in iraq, i served and wrist life and limb. I saw the painful price this nation paid because of our reliance on oil. Investment and Renewable Energy is not only about the environment and jobs and competing with china and other nations are making huge investments in clean energy, its also a very clear National Security imperative for us. Under your leadership, texas made impressive prod progress in wind energy but i do worry you have made statements opposing federal government and involvement to encourage investments in any Energy Sector i know you must recognize these gains could not have been made without federal support. Our nations wind industry would not be where it was without the federal government and i want to replicate the success in wind energy that you saw in texas under your leadership. I would like to do that in illinois and across the nation. Will maintain the supported programs at doe to promote Renewable Energy programs that strive to move us forward and away from our heavy reliance on fossil fuels . Thank you, just as a side, i want to say thank you for your service. There are few people in this room that have made the commitment to this country that you have. There are some in this audience that have, but we collectively thank you for your service. You and i had a pretty broad range conversation about the alternative renewables that are out there. The least of which is not wind and my home state aggressively and very positively supported that. There are, i think a role for the doe as we go forward continuing to find the technological advances, whether it is on turbines or blade design to be. One of the first emerging Technology Fund grants that we made after i helped create this program the flag shoes we recruited top scientists in the world on the solar side. My commitment will be to look at every program it like. Im a fiscal conservative and i dont back away from that and i wear that badge with honor. I do believe there is a role for us to play, both at the state level and at the federal level to continue to put forward, funded by our taxpayer dollars, technologies that can in fact make us more efficient, make us more economically viable, improve our quality of life, and that is my record. You cant change the stripes on the zebra. Its just the way i am, its what i believe in. The administration knew that when they asked me to serve in this role. I am committed to the continuation of using the scientists in our universities in collaboration with finding the solutions to the challenges, whether its on renewables or whether it is ways to use resources that we have in a more efficient, safe and effective manner. Thank you. Youve spoken quite proudly of our National Laboratories and they are major employers in illinois, but they are also developing next generation Battery Storage and exploring the smallest Building Blocks of matter. You and i spoke at length about the need to develop ways to store or reuse nuclear fuel. I popped out a little bit ago to go meet with the student from diane benton illinois. They are from a town that cannot develop valuable lakefront property because there is a Nuclear Reactor there and that nuclear fuel, we have not been able to find a way. I would suggest to you, its its been a political and management challenge and hopefully as we go forward, we can stand together as a country and talk about a legacy that we finally made substantial progress in removing waste from your states to places both in room or far longterm that address this challenge. We have finished our first round we will have an opportunity for another chance and i understand you have been sitting for a considerable amount of time. Hopefully we can move quickly through the second round and not put you through too much more. I am here at your service, maam. Thats what we love to hear. We appreciate that. Governor, im just looking through my morning clips and the front page of the daily news miner where i went to high school. Frigid fairbanks today and the Denali State Bank sign a set its 52 below. That that is the picture. So its cold back home and when its cold, you need to stay warm and when you need to stay warm, sometimes it can be very costly to stay warm and when we talk about all of the at times like this your life depends on the ability to keep warm, but its not just the oil and the natural gas in the coal that we have. The people in fairbank dont have the benefit of natural gas. They are relying on home heating fuel. As we look to find solutions, 11 of the things we are looking to is the ability to access our natural gas from the slope and to be able to access that for the benefit of alaskans and the benefit of the country. 24 of our Energy Produced in the state comes from hydropower. An amazing resource, its not viewed as a renewable resource and id like to work to change that with you. We also have 33000 miles of coastline. Thats a lot of coastline and a lot of water. That is title energy and marine hydrokinetic if we can harness the power of the yukon. It is bountiful. We have the biomass potential. We have again. We need to work with you as the incoming secretary to make sure they are not standing in the way in the innovation that is coming from the National Labs and innovators on the ground as we are working to help facilitate this. We need you to help us cut through a lot of what has been put in place that holds back the innovation for the people who are trying to stay warm and its costing them up pretty penny and to make sure that they have options. I look forward to working with you on some of those specifics. One of the things you dont have is we dont have any nuclear. We have a small population. The prospect for what small modular, i would like to have you address that if you talk about the broader play of energy options, but the potential for small remote communities, some of our Forward Operating base outpost, but as senator duckworth made the point, and i think appropriately so, so, reliance on at risk fuel supply can be lifethreatening. The potential that we have with micro and small module reactors, including the more advanced reactors, i think holds great prospects. Im not sure i can do it anymore eloquently been you just have, those are the things that the department of energy should be engaged with and should be funding. I will share with you in any small or other way. There needs to be legislation that changes federal law on the micro grid issue and i will be more than happy to help you do that. It makes abundant good sense, that classic one size doesnt fit all, it really hadnt thought through, it may be a great idea. My state isnt attached to the federal grid either and it works pretty good for us, but we are a diverse country. We have a different geography in different people and different regions and to thoughtfully put into place energy policies. Im obviously a strong supporter from a safety standpoint. We went to look at it from being able to secure it properly. There are places, senator duckworth and i have that conversation. It could be a good starting point on those and then plug them into the nearby neighborhoods and have that alternative form of energy that can in fact make it available and affordable. August 17, 2011, cbs news quote. Rick pires said wednesday morning he does not believe in Global Warming science and suggested it is grounded in scientists manipulating for financial gain. The climate is changing but it has been changing ever since the earth was formed and he added that the issue of Global Warming has been politicized that america should not spend billions of dollars addressing a scientific theory that has not been proven, and from my perspective, is mormor being put into question. End of quote. That position is at variance with the entire Scientific Community that has studied Climate Change. The scientist i hear from believe Climate Change is great planetary planetary Environmental Crisis that we face and we need to move aggressively to transform our system. Do you still hold the view that you expressed in 2011. Do you agree with those scientists whether it is absolutely imperative that we transform our Energy System away from Energy Efficiency so we can leave this planet in a way that is healthy and habitable for our kids and future generations. I believe the climate is changing. I believe some of its naturally occurring and some of it is caused by manmade activity. I think there are ways that dont affect our energy i dont mean to be rude but we just have a short period of time. I apologize. Senator cantwell made an important point on this and that is we are in danger of spending god knows how many billions of dollars to repair the damage done by Climate Change and it will impact agriculture in a significant way. Basically what im asking you, lets get beyond the rhetoric and you dont have to agree with me, the scientist that i talked to, i think the majority of the scientists puts Climate Change at a Global Crisis. Its not a question of the balance of this and a balance of that. Its a Global Crisis which requires massive cuts in carbon and transformation of our Energy System. How do you respond to that. I like getting past the rhetoric and getting past the rhetoric is looking at the record. I think its important to talk about the fourth largest economy in the world. Is Climate Change a crisis and we need to make changes to protect future generations. I will respond that i think having an academic discussion, whether it is with scientists or with you, it is an interesting exercise, but do i have a record of affecting the climate in the world and in this country and the answer is yes, when you lower Carbon Emissions by 17 and sulfur dioxide by 66 , dont you think that is a good thing . I think what would be a better thing is for you to say right now you recognize we have a Global Crisis in the United States of america should help lead the world, working with china, russia and russia and countries around the world and transform our energy. Let me change the subject. More than 60 of doe budget deals with Nuclear Energy. I think Many Americans were concerned about president elect trumps remarks regarding allowing or supporting more countries around the world to get Nuclear Weapons. The United States under democratic and republican administrations for many, many decades now has been strong in saying we want not to be testing weapons. Do you agree that testing Nuclear Weapons is a dangerous idea. I think its really important for the United States to have an arsenal that is modern, safe. At this time i think if we had general cross here he would tell you that is probably the case. The question is dealing with nuclear testing. Yes or. Will you support the ban on nuclear testing. Thats what i was getting too, obviously the scientist that we have at the doe, the scientists in the private sector, im going to rely upon their observation whether there is clear if we never need to test a Nuclear Weapon that would be a good thing, not not only for the United States, but for the world. Senator lee. Thank you for your willingness to be considered for this position. I want to talk too about a couple things that relate to the department that you will be heading if you are confirmed. One of them relates to uranium, something that the senator mentioned. In some instances it gets involved with winners and losers, often favoring large corporations over newer startups by their very nature they tend to have a harder time. Government gets involved and occupies a market and takes over the whole market. One of those areas relates to the department of energies access uranium Management Plan. The usec privatization act prohibits the department of energy from selling or transferring uranium. If the sale or transfer will harm the domestic uranium industry, you can understand why that policy might be in place. Its an industry that if destroyed. Between 2009 and 2011 the department thousand 11 the department of energy transferred more uranium than allowed to transfer under the 2008 plan. The gao found no compensation for a very large transfer of uranium. Furthermore, the department of energy 2013 access uranium plan eliminated all annual caps on the transfer. This is a tremendous amount of uncertainty in hazard within the domestic uranium industry. If you are confirmed to this position, we you have the opportunity, after being confirmed to update the department of energy Management Plan with access uranium . Can you assure us that your plan will take into account the commercial uranium market and one that honors the market and stick to the plan thereafter. You and senator barrasso helped bring me to understand this issue better than when i came into your office and thank you for that. As i further become up to speed, if you will, knowledgeable of it, but a broad look at this, you correctly identify this as a budgetary management issue. I like to remind folks that for 14 years i delivered a budget to the texas legislator, we negotiated those budgets and prioritized. , working with members of this committee to find the dollars, the law clearly states this cannot, should not happen to manipulate the uranium supplies where it has a negative effect. I will follow the law of this country. Thank you, i appreciate that. I like to get out one more point. The Nuclear Waste policy act creates an obligation that is contractual. It obligates the department of energy to dispose of nuclear fuel. Currently we have 75000 tons of Nuclear Waste stored at onsite facilities across the country. In the meantime the governments reach have cost taxpayers 5. 3 billion in damages. They damages. They could mount up to 23 or 24 billion. I would like to know what you plan. Not addressing the issue of yucca directly, i would like the privilege to come up to speed of the doe and the legal aspects of this and i have a history of solving problems. Look at some alternatives outside of. My hope of this committee and administration is that we, finally after 35 years of kicking the can for whatever reason, we can start seeing definitive evidence of addressing this issue and moving to temporary or permanent siting of this Nuclear Waste. Thank you. Senator cantwell. Thank you madam chair governor. , keeping on the same theme, i wanted to talk about hanford and thank you for mentioning it in your statement and testimony. Obviously you know a little bit about their producing of uranium and we would like to see a commitment for cleaning up the site and moving forward on waste treatment construction. Are you committed to the cleanup and what it takes to getting the waste treatment cleaned up. I am committed to working with you and prioritizing what is one of the most dangerous, most polluted sites that we have in this country. The commitment that this country makes, not me singularly or not the doe singularly, but the countrys commitment to do this has been a failure from my perspective. I will work with you on a very diligent basis, up to and including coming to hanford and walking that site with you, sitting down with the men and women of the labor union that are there, to hear their concerns, and so they know there is a secretary of energy, that there is an department that is committed to making True Movement on one of the real failures that we have had dealing with our Nuclear Waste. Its definitely a complex problem and thanks for recognizing the fact that its one of the most important cleanup projects in the entire world. Would you work with the state with the Tri Party Agreement between the federal government and the state on the cleanup. One of my goals, and i hope one of my strong suits will be to reach out to governors, reach out to members of the legislature who have had these challenges. Avidly working with this committee to find the collaborations, its going to take a collaboration, we understand that. Its going to be the private sector in the state and the federal government working together to make this happen. Doing this in a streamlined efficient process, you have my commitment. On a larger issue, they dealt with a larger conversation in the last congress and some of the things that were published in an article recap the various points of what has happened on this issue. To those i wanted to get your, and comment on. First of all, the blueribbon commission,. We might be able to get it done in a more rapid time. He basically advocated for a consensus process. He has spent time and money trying to do something to the process. Their advocacy was looking for a process where states and those who would be Holding Material were being done i think it would be a bit unfair for me to respond without having read it at length, but as a general rule, and a general observation of what youve talked about, working with the states, having been in Public Service now for 30 plus years, finding consensus is what i did. It makes ultimate good sense to do that, understanding understanding that from time to time, sometimes consensus is really hard to reach and i know the complexities of this really well. Ten to 15 , just on the hanford site. Notwithstanding, i think its with senator alexander and r calling, they have endorsed and its been to say, lets look at the discussion of states whether its new mexico or texas or someone whos on their way or planning various activities, isnt that a faster way to get solutions, get sites cleaned up and get processes moving then contracted battle. The blueribbon was really the expert, lee hamilton and a whole friday people who made these recommendations. Senator i will be open to having those conversations in finding the solution to the problem. Just one easy one sons you have that dont mess with texas when it comes to the grid, will you make sure that bpa is protected and not privatized. You and i have had that conversation. I really look forward to coming out there, not not just to see hanford but the Bonneville Power Agency and what they are doing. The lab. Im sorry, one thing i wanted to say, you also support the workers and making sure they are safe from the cleanup. May be one of our most important duties is making sure those men and women who are working on a very dangerous side have the appropriate protection that they deserve and they have earned. Governor, i want to follow up on the cleanup. You are inheriting the cleanup from the legacy waste from the entire cold war. It will take about 4 billion over the next decade to finish that effort. That effort is not as technically complicated as the hanford site but it requires resources. If the budget is flat you will have your hands full. Weve heard about a hiring freeze and weve talked about rolling substantial portions of the doe, how are you going to meet does commitment to states like new mexico, washington who have consent agreements on these cleanup efforts if we have a dramatically smaller doe budget. Over the 14 years, actually, ill, ill even expanded a little bit, over the 30 years that i was either a state presented of or appropriate or, i was an agency had for eight years and then i was the governor for 14 years. We had budgets that did this. They went up and they went down. We had some really tough budgets in the state of texas in 1985 and 1987 in particular. I was an appropriate or during that period of time. As an agency head, i got to deal with what i was given. I obviously went over and negotiated as good and as hard as i could, and then as the governor of the state, it wasnt always blue skies and smooth sailing. In 2003 we showed up with a 10 billion budget shortfall in our state. Ive had this experience of dealing with budget shortfalls, ive obviously been blessed with sometimes, im not sure i ever ran into a time where somebody said youve got all the money you ever need, but my history is, i know how to manage, i know how to prioritize, and i will make that commitment to you that managing and prioritizing that budget inside the agency will be very high for me, and i hope it gives some comfort that this is not my foot first rodeo and it comes to dealing with budget shortfall. Related to that, i want to thank you for your comments on that, i also want to ask you about the pilot plant facility in carlsbad new mexico. It is a very important part of the cleanup effort. Whip was closed for nearly three years as the result of two serious accidents. We just reopened it this last month. The investigations into those incidents cited lack of proper management and oversight is one of the root causes. I want to ask you to assure me, but more importantly to ensure the people of new mexico that the safe operation will be a Budget Priority and also a management priority. Senator, i hope again that my history of managing a rather large ins into tea, im not in a city and tell you we got everything right every day in the state of texas, but by and large it was a very wellmanaged place. When there were mistakes made, i help people accountable because the people of the state of texas were holding me accountable. I consider my accountability not only to be to this administration, to this committee, to this congress, but also to the people of this country, and to the people of your state, i want my neighbors in new mexico to know that there is a secretary of energy who not only will come to that site and to hear their concerns, whether they are employees of whip or people who live around the communities they are, that every reasonable, every thoughtful effort will be made to make sure not only does that site stay open because of the powerful Economic Impact that has on your state, but also that the people who work there are going to be safe and youve got my commitment to that. That is exactly what i want to hear and i appreciate your willingness to spend your tenure getting to places like the lab and the whip facility. I think that means a great deal to the community. Thank you, i think the nominee we had for secretary of interior, he is going to be doing a lot of traveling in the first month which we appreciate. Thank you. I know in your meeting you committed to coming to nevada as well. Staying on the line of questioning here, there will be cleanup and disposal of highlevel and lowlevel Nuclear Waste. One of the Cleanup Sites is the nevada National Security state which was used in the 1950s and there there are three main areas of focus for the doe which is groundwater contamination cleanup, low water and environmental reporting. Are you committed to the cleanup of that site. Of course senator, and as i have shared with the governor and governor heller, i hope we can, again, as the chairman mentioned, im going to be traveling a lot, and i wont be coming to nevada to see my daughter, i might do that, but we will be there to go to that site, to take a good appraisal of it and continue to prioritize these cleanups. I think everyone on the committee will agree that one of the main priorities, obviously keeping that arsenal safe, modernizing that arsenal, but prioritizing funding and managing that funding inappropriate way to clean up these waste sites will be very, very high on the priority list. Thank you. Based on a conversation what im hearing, i will try one more time, do you support storing Nuclear Waste. Senator, i am not point to have a definitive answer, absolutely, no way in hell, i heard that from senator heller, the governor and you pretty loud and clear. But i think what you need to hear from me is i am going to be looking at the alternative ways to be able to address this issue. We have not, for 30 years been able to address it. If there are legitimate alternatives that keep the people of nevada happy, thats even better, but i will not sit here in front of you in a Committee Hearing and tell you, absolutely, no way is nevada going to be the recipient of any highlevel waste. What i will tell you is it will work i will work with you every day, and as a number of other senators have said, there are other places in this country that are willing to have this conversation, and i think we need to have an open conversation. I was for bringing highlevel waste into the state of tech texas while i was the gov. I seem to manage to get reelected every time i ran. The issue is one that if we are wise, if for thoughtful, if we are respectful, that we use good science, we can find a solution to this. Thank you. Another reason i would love for you to come to nevada, there are 29 operating Geothermal Power plants in nevada right now, employing potentially 6375 individuals both directly and indirectly with jobs, and we have been able to do so and create these job producing Clean Energy Power plants with the support of does Geothermal Technology office. What i would like to know is will you commit to pushing for Adequate Funding for the geo thermal office to keep researching Geothermal Energy and innovation. All of the above senator. All of the above means all of the above. So that is her yes. For you and i, we will probably have a more pointed conversation is the word adequate and, as i shared my in my remarks earlier, prior to aviation and Good Management of budget can go a long way. There is another project on the horizon called the fortune lab project. I would ask for your commitment and support in considering that in those types of projects as well. As i become more knowledgeable of that operation, my soninlaw has been there a few times. He can easily pointed out to me. Thank you. Senator franken. Thank you. As you know, two thirds of the Energy Budget is dedicated toward our Nuclear Weapons program. The United States already has the worlds most formidable nuclear arsenal. We contained approximately 4000 Nuclear Weapons, a number that number that is much bigger than we need to maintain an effective deterrence and yet we are on track to spend more than a trillion dollars over the next three decades to sustain, replace and refurbish delivery systems, warheads and their supporting infrastructure. This plan was launched in a different budget era, and i can tell you that numerous, very distinguished National Security experts believe this investment will significantly hang hamper the ability of the United States to respond to conventional and unconventional threats that we may face. If you are confirmed, would you be open to all turning this scope if it is clear that taxpayer savings can be achieved well meeting the requirements. Senator, i will address your remarks by saying i understand my role as being the manager of that agency. From my perspective the issues that you bring forward, which are legitimate issues for us to talk about as a country, making the decisions relative to the numbers but partly by the funding stream and what have you, i will be following the statutes and laws that the United States congress put in place. You may have influence in this debate so just let me alert you to this, these are weapons that we are never going to use, we hope, and 1 trillion over 30 years years. Yes, sir, real money. Yes. While we are on the topic of Nuclear Weapons, i want to turn to the iran deal. As as you know your present predecessor played a key part in negotiating the deal and limits that have blocked irans potential to amass nuclear material. In a january 2017 letter to president president elect trump, 37 of the nations top scientists wrote that in some, the jc poa has dramatically reduce the risk that iran could suddenly produce significant quantities of Nuclear Weapons serial. They concluded their technical judgment is that the multilateral jc poa provides a strong bulwark against an iranian Nuclear Weapons program. Specifically as a result of the iran deal, the uranium stockpile was cut by 97 . It was cut to 300 kilograms, a fraction of the amount needed for a singular Nuclear Weapon with further enrichments. The Nuclear Enrichment levels are kept to way below weapons grade. The core reactor was destroyed and they will redesign the facility so that it will not produce weapons grade plutonium. Given the nonproliferation benefits of the jc poa, secretary of energy, i hope that you will make a real effort to talk to people in the community who support the deal, i hope you will spike with the Israeli Military and i think they will tell you this is not just in American National interest but also in the israeli National Security interest and i would urge you to advise the president elect to not get out the steel. I think that would be bad for our country. The other countries are going to be staying in it anyway you will have the president s ear on this so i just want to make a pitch to you to keep us in the iran deal. As a response, i think nonproliferation is a good thing i have not had a classified briefing yet. Until i am confirmed, i would certainly ask each of you for your support on that, but until im confirmed im not going to be as knowledgeable about this iran deal with specificity, but to say that if doe has a role and there may be a role we have to play and again i havent had that classified briefing to make sure that the iranians are living up, i think all of us can say we want them to live up to the deal, so message delivered. Thank you. Senator king. On that point, i appreciate your comments and i think one of the Important Roles that the department of energy has is monitoring and working with the intelligence agencies to be sure that iran is living up to the deal and i know thats a very important responsibility. In terms of the arrangement itself, i view it as the fact that iran has gotten their benefits from the deal which release the sanctions. Now the burdens which are a ten year or longer tamping down of their centrifuges, enrichment and all of that, we would only be hurting ourselves if we terminated the deal because they wouldve gotten what they wanted and we would have release them from the restrictions of the agreement. Two things, very short and all you need to do is say yes twice. One of them is it sounds like a wedding. Yes, exactly. In your case it appears to have worked out pitifully. Yes it did. I want to invite you to the university. We have a relationship, as we mentioned, to the department of energy labs. Its amazing Engineering School and facility, 3d printing and i think you would find it very illuminating. If you want to come in june or july instead of february, i will accept that. I will be there senator. That was the right answer. The second issue, i just want to commend to you, we talked a lot about energy sources, we talked a lot about distributed energies which is homes making their own energy, demand response and the cheapest cleanest kilowatt hour of all is the one we dont use. There is an enormous potential there. The department has been doing research and i just hope you will continue to Pay Attention to that as part of the all of the above strategy includes distributed energy and energy that is produced at the factory level but also things like efficiency, storage and demand response. When you talk about the distributed issue, are you talking about issues like smart meters. Yes exactly. We had a program in my home state of which we helped fund and gave incentives to the installations and its been quite successful in those are the type of thoughtful engagement and investment that i have sister historically been very supportive of. Thank you. Thank you madam chair. Thank you for your patience over a long morning. Thank you, we do do appreciate your endurance and patience. We are just visiting about how long these nomination hearings go. I have no further questions. Heres a clarification. I would like to file a couple things for the record to get your response on Smart Buildings and Energy Efficiency. These have been successful programs that have saved millions of dollars. I was out while you were dialoguing and i was running back and forth between the treasury nominee hearing and this hearing and i think you gave her a commitment on the office of electricity, but i just want to make sure, given all given all the discussion that we had this morning in the press that you understand that offices capability on storage and cyber and the grid and all of those things and are committed to that office. The most important aspects of the agency, cyber, i hope i have made im committed to finding solutions on the cyber side there is some work we can do on the supercomputing side. The office of electricity, you support wholeheartedly. Whatever the name of the committee, whatever the name needs to be, i am sometimes theres renaming and i dont intend to do that off the top of my head. There is great support and support in general. As we dive into this agency, more working with your office and the rest of the committee, i look forward to lots of successes. If i might, i would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here. You said something about the length of these things but this is important work and important business an important agency. If i am so fortunate to be confirmed, and i hope i can get the support of each and every one of these senators as we go forward, but i am committed to working with you to be a partner and to truly make america becoming Energy Independent place that has extraordinary future for our children, for our country, for our environment, and in turn the world. Well said, we thank you governor. We appreciate the time youve given us and your willingness to all answer the question of virtually every member on the committee. Weve only had two members who were not able to be in attendance today. We will allow for questions to be submitted to the record until the close of business today. We encourage submission before that if at all possible. I will also ask and sent to sub mitt letters of consent for the record. I asked members submit any of their own to our chief clerk, but again think you and i would also like to thank your family that has been there supporting you, behind you in this hearing throughout your professional career in the leadership you have provided in your willingness to step forward. Id also like to acknowledge the sacrifice and service. We appreciate that and honor you with that, thank you and the committee stands adjourned, god, god. [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] cspan continues bringing you the confirmation hearings for Trump Administration nominees. We will have them live on the cspan television network. Also on our website cspan. Org and on the free cspan radio app. Later today on cspan, president elect trump and Vice President elect pens and a reap playing ceremony at Arlington National cemetery. After that the president elect will make remarks at the welcome concert taking place at the lincoln memorial. President ial inauguration of donald trump is the nations 45th president is coming up tomorrow. He takes the oath at noon eastern and cspans live all day coverage of the days events and ceremonies gets underway at 7 00 a. M. Eastern time. The swearingin, the inaugural address, the parade down pennsylvania avenue, and the inaugural ball is live all day on cspan, on my cspan. Org, and on the cspan radio app. Take a look at the west front of the u. S. Capitol where donald trump will take the oath of office tomorrow at noon eastern. Cspan, where History History unfolds daily. In 1979, cspan was created as a Public Service by the u. S. Cable cable companies. Wilbur ross testified yesterday. He said his top authority, if confirmed would be making changes to nafta, the north American Free trade agreement pretty also said china has protectionist trade policy. His confirmation h