The Chairman. Well, we will probably just leave him, as most husbands, out in the dark.

[Laughter.]

The Chairman. Thank you very much.

Mr. Martinez?

Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Chairman, my wife, Suzanne Martinez, is with me here today.

The Chairman. Nice to have you with us. Good morning.

Mr. Forrister?

Mr. Forrister. Yes, Mr. Chairman. My parents, Frank and Carolyn Maddux, are with me today, as well as my wife, Mimi Turnipseed, and her aunt, Wynnelle White.

The Chairman. You have got the whole family there. Good morning. Thank you.

Mr. Burton?

Mr. Burton. My wife and two beautiful children are holding down the fort in Austin, Texas today.

The Chairman. All right. That is fair enough. Well, the fort is safe then.

Senator Johnston.

STATEMENT OF J. BENNETT JOHNSTON, U.S. SENATOR FROM

LOUISIANA

Senator JOHNSTON. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I am really very pleased to be here this morning to support strongly all four of these nominees.

I have not had the privilege of working with Mr. Martinez and Mr. Forrister, but I know them by background as being well qualified and I will enthusiastically support them.

I have had the privilege of working with Bill Burton and strongly recommend him, Mr. Chairman, for the USEC, which is a child of this committee. It is an enterprise which we regard as being very important, and that we believe with the right kind of stewardship, which we know and expect that Mr. Burton will help give to it, USEC will survive and thrive and make money for the United States and serve a very important national interest.

Now, Mr. Chairman, everyone here knows Patty Beneke. We know her so well I was tempted to play jokes on Patty

[Laughter.]

Senator Johnston [continuing.] And seize on tiny items in her background and try to blow them up. The staff said, please, do not do that. Patty takes those things to be very serious.

[Laughter.]

Senator Johnston. So, I will not do that except to say that for those who are concerned that the Department of the Interior is in disarray, be patient. Patty is on the way, and I mean that very seriously. She is one of the most competent lawyers and esteemed public policymakers that I know, and we would have liked to have had her back on this committee. In fact, we did not want her to go in the first place, but she got away from us. But that is the gain for the Department of the Interior.

And, Patty, I know you are going to do a wonderful job as Assistant Secretary. So, we look forward to working with you and will welcome you there.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to put a statement in the record from Tom Harkin who wanted to be here but could not. He, as you would expect, is very enthusiastic in his support of Patty Beneke.

The Chairman. It will be entered in the record as if read.

Senator Johnston. Also, I would like to add Senator Ford's statement on Bill Burton into the record.

The Chairman. It will be entered into the record as if read.

[The prepared statements of Senators Johnston, Ford, and Harkin follow:]

Prepared Statement Of Hon. J. Bennett Johnston, VS. Senator From

Louisiana

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing to consider these four nominees. I believe that each is well qualified and congratulate them on being chosen by the President to serve the Nation in their respective capacities.

I want to say a few words in particular about one of the nominees before us this morning.

Patty Beneke, the President's choice to be the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior, served as a member of the Committee staff for almost eight years. During this time, I came to know her as a person of great intellect and personal and professional integrity. She served me and the other members of the Committee, both Majority and Minority, with the distinction and dedication that this Committee expects of its professional staff. I am very proud of Patty's many accomplishments both on and off the Committee and commend the President for nominating her to fill this important position at the Department of the Interior.

I look forward to the testimony of each of the nominees and hope we can report them to the Senate as expeditiously as possible.

Prepared Statement Of Hon. Wendell H. Ford, U.S. Senator From Kentucky

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that the Committee has been able to schedule this hearing on the nomination of Bill Burton to serve on the Board of Directors of the United States' Enrichment Corporation. I believe that the committee should move quickly to approve Mr. Burton and send his nomination to the full Senate.

Mr. Burton has a background as an energy lawyer, and I believe he will bring a worthwhile perspective to the USEC Board. I have met with Bill Burton, and believe he has a solid understanding of the long-term goals and needs of USEC as it begins to compete as a private entity in the global uranium enrichment market.

As you are aware, Mr. Chairman, Senator Domenici and I and many others have worked for years to privatize the uranium enrichment operations formerly run by the Department of Energy. With the passage last week of our energy reconciliation package, we have moved one step closer to that goal. It is my strong hope that this legislation can soon be enacted, whether as part of Reconciliation or as a stand alone bill.

As USEC enters this critical transition phase, it is absolutely essential that we not delay further in filling the currently vacant seat on the Board. President Clinton has chosen Bill Burton to fill this spot, and I believe we owe him this hearing and a quick confirmation process.

Prepared Statement Of Hon. Tom Harkin, U.S. Senator From Iowa

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am sorry that I cannot appear personally to introduce and strongly endorse this nominee but I submit the following statement for inclusion in the record.

Patricia Beneke, a native of Ames, Iowa, whom I have known for over twenty years, has been nominated by the President to serve as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior. She has worked with the Department of the Interior as Associate Solicitor for Energy and Resources since May 1993 and has done an outstanding job. I believe that Ms. Beneke possesses the background and extensive experience which make her exceptionally well suited to be appointed Assistant Secretary for Waters and Science at the Department of the Interior and I am pleased to introduce her to the Committee.

Ms. Beneke received her B.A. in 1976 from Iowa State University and her J.D. in 1979 from Harvard Law School. She is a member of the District of Columbia and Iowa Bars. Prior to her work at the Department of the Interior, Ms. Beneke served as Counsel to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources until May of 1993 and maintains an outstanding reputation with the members of the Committee. She has also worked at the Departments of Justice and Agriculture and has been in private law practice. She resides in McLean, Virginia, with her husband, Bob Waters and their two children.

Patty is an outstanding choice for this position. She is not only exceptionally well prepared to perform the duties of this position, she is a person of the highest moral caliber and personal integrity. Patty has my strong support and every confidence. I enthusiastically endorse her nomination. I encourage the Committee to extend her a warm introduction and ask that they move expeditiously to approve her appointment.

Thank you.

The Chairman. What I would like to do is to have the statements from the nominees. We have a vote at 10 o'clock and I want to advise it would be my intention to try and hold a business meeting the second week in October and take action on the nominees at that time.

Senator Domenici.

STATEMENT OF HON. PETE V. DOMENICI, U.S. SENATOR FROM

NEW MEXICO

Senator Domenici. Mr. Chairman, I would like to speak briefly and I am certain Senator Bingaman would also with reference to the New Mexican who is in the foursome, Mr. Eluid Martinez. I have a prepared statement that I would like to put in the record.

The Chairman. It will be entered in the record as if read.

Senator Domenici. I welcome Mrs. Martinez to the hearing also. It is good to have you here.

Are you moving to Washington?

Mrs. Martinez. No.

Senator Domenici. Not yet.

[Laughter.]

The Chairman. She does not look very enthusiastic about moving to Washington.

Senator Domenici. She lives in a beautiful part of the world.

Let me just suggest that Mr. Martinez has spent most of his life in an area in the State of New Mexico that is our lifeblood. He is a water expert. In fact, he was with the State Water Engineer, which is one of the most powerful positions in the State, for most of his life, and then in his last years of service there, he became the Chief Water Engineer for the State of New Mexico. That is the person that decides all the water rights in our State based upon State law and prior use, and it is one of the most difficult of jobs. In fact, I would suggest the Bureau of Reclamation will not be any more difficult in terms of pressure on Mr. Martinez in that Water Engineer's job.

I welcome you here and compliment the President for appointing you and look forward to voting for you and doing what I can to expedite your approval by the U.S. Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[The prepared statement of Senator Domenici follows:]

Prepared Statement Of Hon. Pete V. Domenici, U.S. Senator From

New Mexico

Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a few introductory remarks about one of today's nominees, Eluid Martinez.

Mr. Chairman, I don't have to tell you that almost no other issue in the Western states is as important as is the issue of water.

Every aspect of life in the West is contingent on the availability of this precious resource; consequently, we in the West take very seriously any situation which might affect that availability.

The Bureau of Reclamation has a long and proud history of providing much needed water to the Western States and, as a consequence, of bringing life to the desert. Therefore, I think it's fair to say that confirming a new Commissioner for the Bureau is one of those situations that causes us Westerners to sit up and take notice.

That is why I am so pleased to be see Eluid Martinez sitting across from me as the Administration's nominee for Commissioner.

I have known and have worked with Eluid for many years. I think you all know that Eluid was born and raised in my State of New Mexico. He was trained as an engineer at New Mexico State University, and attended the graduate school of engineering at the University of New Mexico.

As an engineer, he chose to dedicate his career to the planning, allocation, and protection of New Mexico's water resources, working in our State Engineer's office for almost 24 years. His service in that office included positions as the principal Hearing Examiner, the Chief of the Technical Division, and, ultimately, as the State Engineer himself.

As State Engineer, it was his job—a job I can tell you I didn't envy—of ensuring that New Mexico's water was being used and conserved as it should by all parties.

To be quite honest, I don't think that there is a tougher job in the State, nor is there a job that is more important to its citizens. I am happy to say that Eluid's performance as State Engineer was outstanding.

In addition to his work as State Engineer, Eluid has served as the Secretary of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, and has been a member of the Western States Water Council and the Association of Western State Engineers.

Further, I have worked with Eluid personally on a project to map the available water in the Albuquerque Basin. This is truly a cutting-edge hydrologic project and, as I hope that the Bureau can provide help with the project, I will return to it in some detail during the questioning period.

So you see, Mr. Chairman, Eluid Martinez is, from his head to his toes, a product of the West. He understands the challenges of living in an arid climate, he appreciates just how crucial the proper use and conservation of water is, and he has the technical and administrative expertise that will be demanded from a Bureau Commissioner.

That is why I have received letters of support for Eluid's nomination from my State's irrigation districts, the people in my state that will be most affected by his tenure. And that, Mr. Chairman, is why I welcome and fully support Eluid's nomination as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.

The Chairman. Senator Bumpers.

STATEMENT OF HON. DALE BUMPERS, U.S. SENATOR FROM

ARKANSAS

Senator Bumpers. Mr. Martinez, I was beginning to feel sorry for you because everybody was going to nominate Patty and Derrick and Bill Burton for sainthood, and it seems to me you are well represented here.

[Laughter.]

Senator Bumpers. Mr. Chairman, I will just submit a statement on behalf of Bill Burton for the record and say that, first of all, Bill comes from the hometown of another fairly famous Arkansan— Hope.

He started out in the newspaper business in Texarkana. Were you there when I ran for Governor the first time, Bill?

Mr. Burton. Yes, sir.

Senator Bumpers. I did not think you were that old.

Senator Johnston. You did not endorse Bumpers, though, did you?

[Laughter.]

Senator Bumpers. That is the only bad thing you can say about Bill Burton. He started out as a journalist, and he then later bought and operated the Hope Star, at that time one of the best weeklies in the State.

But more importantly, he has a very illustrious academic back

?*ound. He is a magnum cum laude graduate of the University of rkansas, a member of Phi Beta Phi National Honor Society, and was awarded the school's top journalism graduate honor. He ranked first in his class in law school, was elected associate editor of the Law Journal, served as editor of the American Bar Association National Law Student magazine, and then joined Jones Day. That is enough to recommend him.

He is a former staff director for the Chief of Staff at the White House, Mac McLarty.

I will not bore you any further with his credentials. He is truly an outstanding citizen. We are very proud of him. The President just could not have done better.

But in any event, let me also say on behalf of Patty Beneke, I would be happy to recommend her for President or anything else she is interested in. Everybody on this committee knows of her extraordinary intellect and congeniality, and so, Patty, we wish you well. All of us are very happy to see you in this job.

Let me finally say, Mr. Chairman, I have a lot of friends here, Derrick Forrister's wife Mimi. Mimi, stand up and let them see you.

[Laughter.]

Senator Bumpers. Mimi worked for me for 3 years, which is enough to recommend Derrick for whatever he wants.

[Laughter.]

Senator Bumpers. Derrick, good luck to you.

[The prepared statement of Senator Bumpers follows:]

Prepared Statement Of Hon. Dale Bumpers, U.S. Senator From Arkansas

Mr. Chairman, I would like to take the opportunity this morning to welcome Bill Burton, who the President had great wisdom to nominate as a member of the board of directors of the Uranium Enrichment Corporation. I believe that Bill is eminently qualified to serve on the board of directors of the Uranium Enrichment Corporation as it enters a very important phase of its existence.

Bill has the good fortune to come from the town of Texarkana, which is located on the Arkansas/Texas border. He began his journalist career by working for the local Texarkana paper before moving on to become editor and publisher of a newspaper in Hope, Arkansas. After serving as an editor for the Associated Press, Bill turned to a career in law. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School with high honors and made the highest score on both the Texas and Arkansas bar exams.

After practicing for a while with Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue, Bill served as assistant to the President and policy and staff director for chief of staff Mack McLarty from 1993 to 1994, where he focused on energy policy issues. Since that time, Bill has returned to Jones, Day, where he is the co-chairman of the firm's energy practice group.

Mr. Chairman, last week the Energy and Natural Resources Committee reported its legislative recommendations for inclusion in the budget reconciliation bill. One of the few provisions that the committee reported which makes sense, authorizes the board of directors of the U.S. Uranium Enrichment Corporation to transfer the corporation to private ownership. If this provision becomes law, it will become even more important that men and women of the highest integrity serve on the board