Congress has always acted to encourage federal agencies to expedite the processes to allow greater development of every resource on federal lands. We must maintain pressure on the agencies to make that greater access a reality. We need to open ANWR. If ANWR development was authorized back in 2001, when it was first proposed to the Congress, production would already be on line and we would be less dependant on foreign sources of oil and the inflated market prices. We also need to encourage more development of the oil shale and tar sands in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. There are an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil in these areas. The language I authored and that was included in the energy bill is only a start, but the Congress needs to build on these incentives to ensure development. We also need to encourage the building of new refineries. We have not had a new refinery built in America since 1976. One program I am supporting is for the building of refineries on military bases that have been closed under the BRAC process.

12. What should the government's policy be with regard to developing oil discovered in Utah?

We need to consolidate our school trust lands so that the oil produced can directly provide money to our schools. Between oil shale and tar sands development and the coal to gasoline technology, we have plenty of resources that should and can be developed. The federal government needs to encourage this development for the national reasons of reducing prices and increasing supply, but on a state level this needs to be encouraged so our schools have the resources they need. The government should have a hands-off policy. If the government gets out of the way the nation will have more resources and Utah will have more money to teach our children.

13. Many believe No Child Left Behind has damaged Utah schools. What can be done to improve education in the state and the nation?