U.S. Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-Nm) Holds Hearing On Nomination of Samuel Bodman to Be Secretary of Energy Department

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U.S. Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-Nm) Holds Hearing On Nomination of Samuel Bodman to Be Secretary of Energy Department

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES HOLDS A HEARING ON NOMINATION OF SAMUEL BODMAN TO BE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

JANUARY 19, 2005

SPEAKERS: U.S. SENATOR PETE V.DOMENICI (R-NM) CHAIRMAN U.S. SENATOR LARRY E. CRAIG (R-ID) U.S. SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS (R-WY) U.S. SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN) U.S. SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK) U.S. SENATOR RICHARD BURR (R-NC) U.S. SENATOR MEL MARTINEZ (R-FL) U.S. SENATOR JIM TALENT (R-MO) U.S. SENATOR CONRAD BURNS (R-MT) U.S. SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN (R-VA) U.S. SENATOR GORDON SMITH (R-OR) U.S. SENATOR JIM BUNNING (R-KY)

U.S. SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN (D-NM) RANKING MEMBER U.S. SENATOR DANIEL K. AKAKA (D-HI) U.S. SENATOR BYRON L. DORGAN (D-ND) U.S. SENATOR RON WYDEN (D-OR) U.S. SENATOR TIM JOHNSON (D-SD) U.S. SENATOR MARY L. LANDRIEU (D-LA) U.S. SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA) U.S. SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA) U.S. SENATOR JON CORZINE (D-NJ) U.S. SENATOR KEN SALAZAR (D-CO)

WITNESSES:

SAMUEL BODMAN TO BE SECRETARY OF ENERGY DEPARTMENT

[*] DOMENICI: The committee will please come to order. (OFF-MIKE) I understand (OFF-MIKE). I'd just call the committee to order and thank you all for coming. And this is the first hearing of the committee in the 109th -- thank you, Senator -- 109th Congress. So I want to take a few moments and make comments about the five new members and welcome them to the committee.

Senator Allen, who is not here, we welcome him. Senator Burr, a new senator on our side, Senator Corzine on the Democrat side, Senator Martinez from Florida and Senator Salazar from my neighboring, Senator Bingaman's and my neighboring state of Colorado. We welcome you and those who are here and those who aren't here, of the new senators, we welcome you.

I think we should start off by saying to the new members and make sure the record is straight that this committee has a remarkable history of producing much legislation for many parts and many activities in the government. We passed more bills last year that dealt with American issues than any committee in the Senate. And we almost got every bill that we reported through the Senate and passed as laws. A few were hung up at the end, but we'll get them done.

That is done when we work together. And I'm very proud of the production that takes place. I think it's true that this cooperation produces this productivity. And I am hopeful that it will apply to the energy bill this year. We can accept responsibility for the fact that it was not done in a bipartisan way last year, at least as bipartisan as it could be.

Senator Bingaman, it's my hope that we can alleviate that problem. I hope so, because I believe, as I've talked with you, that most probably the energy crisis is bigger than our parties and probably much bigger than this committee. And we ought to be able to contribute to its solution. Now we'll move quickly to the nominee.

Dr. Bodman, we welcome you to the committee for the hearing to consider your nomination to be the secretary of the Department of Energy. The rules of the committee will apply, as they do to all nominations. And you are required to do a few things right now. First, that you be sworn in in connection with the testimony.

So would you please rise and raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

BODMAN: I do.

DOMENICI: Please be seated. Before you begin your statement, I will ask you three questions that are those asked regularly of nominees. One, will you be available to appear before this committee and other committees of the Congress to represent the department's position and respond to issues of concern to the Congress?

BODMAN: I will.

DOMENICI: Are you aware of any personal holdings, investments or interests that could constitute a conflict or create the appearance of such a conflict should you be confirmed and assume the office to which you have been nominated by the president?

BODMAN: All of my personal assets have been reviewed, sir, both by myself and by appropriate ethics counselors within the federal government. And I have taken appropriate action to avoid any conflicts of interest.

DOMENICI: Are you involved or do you have any assets that are held in blind trusts?

BODMAN: Yes, sir, I do.

DOMENICI: Now we will make note of that. And Dr. Bodman, I want to thank you for your willingness to serve our president and our country. You have been very successful in the private sector, and I've heard good reports of your tenure a...

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