Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your convening this important hearing. I wish to join you and other members of the Committee in welcoming the nominees for director of the Park Service, director of the Bureau of Land Management, director of the Office of Surface Mining, and board of the U.S. Enrichment Corporation.

Good morning and welcome, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Shea, Ms. Karpan, and Dr. Youngblood. And aloha to the friends and family members who are accompanying you on this proud occasion.

At the outset, let me inform you that I strongly support each of your nominations. All of you have strong records of public service that fully qualify you for these key positions.

Mr. Stanton, you have had a stellar career at the Park Service, a career marked by top performance at every level of the organization. Your intimate knowledge of Park Service operations will aid you in carrying out the agency's mission to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of our parks as well as facilitate public enjoyment of these national treasures.

Mr. Shea, your background in law, education, and the environment will certainly help you address the difficult, often contentious, issues facing the Bureau of Land Management. Your previous Washington experience, both as counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and more recently as a member of the President's Commission on Airline Safety and Security, will undoubtedly give you a leg up in dealing with Congress and the federal bureaucracy; I wish you luck!

Ms. Karpan, in reviewing your resume, I was astonished by the variety of positions you have held, from House staffer to Commerce Department official to Wyoming Secretary of State. No doubt these professional experiences, in addition to the personal experience of growing up in a coal miner's family, will help you manage the federal agency responsible for developing and enforcing surface mining standards.

Finally, Dr. Youngblood, this is the second time around for you. The fact that you have served with distinction on the board of the U.S. Enrichment Corporation since 1994 is qualification enough for this important job. Your reappointment will bring continuity and experience to this important position.

I congratulate all of you on your nominations. You have achieved a high level of prominence in your respective professions and enjoy the full confidence of the President. I look forward to your testimonies and to your ultimate confirmation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.