Jeff Bingaman Quotations

There are no minimum royalty rates, there are no enforcement provisions, there are no required inspections, there are no limits on the size or duration of leases, no requirement that operation plans be approved,

Frankly, reconciling some of (her) past views with current testimony is not that easy, but I take Gale Norton at her word. Based on her testimony, because of the promises she made at the hearing, I will support her nomination.

has an obligation to find a solution ... before the crisis worsens.

I think the presentation on the White Sands Missile Range issue was a very persuasive presentation. It seemed clear to me at the time that the commissioners were listening to the testimony and were somewhat convinced by it.

I think the decision by the BRAC commission to reject the Pentagon recommendations to move the Army Research Laboratory from White Sands Missile Range to Maryland was very good news. That, I think, was the good news of the day.

Reducing the federal government's massive energy waste offers enormous opportunities to save taxpayers billions of dollars for decades to come and improve the environment, ... We're starting to make progress, but there's no excuse for this much waste when leading companies in the U.S. energy-efficiency industry are willing to provide the money for improvements at no up-front cost to taxpayers.

I strongly believe that securing our nation's borders is a fundamental responsibility of the federal government, ... This is not a burden that should fall on local communities that lack the resources to deal with the influx of illegal (immigrants) and the increase in border violence.

This report shines a spotlight on the fact our country is losing its competitive edge. Clearly there are steps we can take to regain our competitiveness, and the recommendations outlined in this comprehensive report give us a good place to start.

There are issues associated with the act that Congress may want to revisit. But if the Senate is going to make any significant changes, I believe we should work hard to build consensus first.

This was a chapter of our military history that has not been given sufficient attention, and there are some real genuine heroes here who deserve recognition.

There's no excuse for this much waste when leading companies in the U.S. energy-efficiency industry are willing to provide the money for improvements at no up-front cost to taxpayers.

I've always thought of the parks as a commercial-free zone. Strikes me this is a slippery slope and a very major change.

As best as I can determine, the process is going to be fair, ... explained in some detail the various steps that they were taking to ensure that the bids were appropriately considered and the factors that needed to be given the greatest importance were in fact going to be given the greatest importance.

This is a program that's very important for the low-income seniors who depend upon it, ... I don't think most of them are aware that Congress has failed to extend the program.

This is a step in the right direction and I commend the president for it.

This is not an issue about national security or release of radiation. That is not occurring.

This is the kind of innovative approach our country needs.

It's not realistic to say we are just going to start, all of a sudden, sending everybody home who is here on an undocumented basis, ... You've got to find some process for sorting through those who are here and those who have been here for some substantial period. You have to find some way for their legal status to be regularized ... as legal residents or something at some point in the future.

Each side made a good case on the issue, ... We'll talk with Washington headquarters and try to find a solution that serves the security needs of the lab while protecting the economic impact concerns of the business community.

It's contrary to the way the court decisions have come down already. It is an extraordinary step for this Congress to be taking.

It's clear that the president and his advisers share our concern about the prospects of losing our competitive edge in the global economy. It's my hope that the administration's budget reflects this concern by making a significant increase in our nation's investment in science and technology.

a path forward that we can agree upon.

I have no doubt that Ms. Norton is an extremely decent and capable person ... I do have doubts about some of the policies she has promoted and whether they are consistent with the responsibilities of the job of Secretary of Interior.

In this time of rising oil and gas prices, the program has been the subject of criticism for alleged under-collections resulting in the public not receiving fair value for its mineral resources.

I hope that in future Congresses there will reemerge a recognition that climate change is a reality, that our policies to meet our energy needs must also deal responsibly with environmental issues, including the damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Clearly this is a serious situation and demands a serious response. It is important, however, to resist the temptation to rush to judgment before the investigators have an opportunity to complete their work.

I've voted in some cases to remove and reduce tax breaks for the oil industry in other cases I've voted not to because I felt that the proposals covered too much.

Social Security is not a retirement savings plan; it is a social insurance program. It's a contract that says, as a society, we will look out for you and your family when you can no longer work.

I think the men and women serving in Iraq today deserve special recognition for that.

The United States is the most innovative country in the world. But our leadership could slip away if we fail to properly fund primary, secondary and higher education.

Today, energy prices are at historic highs. Some analysts estimate that energy price shocks this year could cost American consumers more than $40 billion. Speaking very frankly, we cannot afford this kind of expense.

I will seek to reverse the shift of benefits from Medicaid to Medicare and hold harmless our seniors and disabled.

I am not opposed to the limited use of polygraphs in a case where a person is suspected of wrongdoing. But widespread use of the polygraph as a screening tool goes far beyond what is acceptable.

It is reasonable to insist that when the government deprives a person of his or her liberty? and in this case for an indefinite period of time? that the individual have a meaningful opportunity to challenge the legality of their detention and challenge whether they are being wrongfully detained.

Clearly, we need to have the very best advice and counsel on what actions can be taken to help lower the cost of gasoline.

This is not a time to back away from the principles that this country was founded on.

People should not be imprisoned without having the ability to challenge the legality of that imprisonment.

I never considered the move to Washington to be a permanent move.

I support concrete and progressive immigration reform based on three primary criteria: family reunification, economic contributions, and humanitarian concerns.

I do not believe he has an agenda to reverse our nation's historic commitment to civil rights, and I take him at his word when he says that he will take each case on its facts and apply the law regardless of his personal views.

The truth is, this is something the administration would dearly like.

The diversion of Social Security revenues to private investment accounts would shift much of the risks of old-age back to low-income seniors, and pose very serious challenges to families who depend on social security's survivor and disability insurance benefits.