[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONFIRMATION OF SAMUEL BODMAN AS SECRETARY OF ENERGY

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the 
Senate's confirmation of Dr. Samuel Bodman as our new Secretary of 
Energy.
  I believe Dr. Bodman will bring considerable skill to the position of 
Secretary of Energy. Dr. Bodman's distinguished career speaks for 
itself. In the private sector, he excelled as a professor at MIT, 
president of an investment company, and chairman and CEO of a worldwide 
industrial company. In these positions, he gained a great deal of 
knowledge in financial markets and the impact energy and technology has 
on those markets. He further proved his capabilities in his service as 
Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. 
There is no question that Dr. Bodman is qualified to assume this 
important position.
  As a Nation, we are far too dependent on foreign sources of energy 
and must work to increase our energy independence. While I support 
domestic oil production, I also believe that we must continue to 
develop alternative sources of energy in the United States. In my home 
State, Utah State University is working with the Department of Energy 
to that end. I was pleased that the Department of Energy recently 
awarded Utah State University a grant to further the university's 
studies into alternative energy research and development programs. Such 
programs are essential to ensure we can meet our Nation's future energy 
needs, and I admire the university for being at the forefront on this 
issue.
  I have a great deal of respect for Dr. Bodman, and I look forward to 
working with him on the compelling energy issues facing our Nation. 
While there will certainly be challenges to overcome as we work to 
shape our energy policy and increase our energy independence, I am 
confident that Dr. Bodman will serve admirably in the position.

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