We simply cannot reshuffle the deck chairs on this Titanic.

I will commit to you that I will work with my colleagues to ensure you get it.

I mean, if you say you don't have this money, or you have this extra money.

Budgets represent a choice, and provide a window into the priorities of the VA.

The budget request contains 'operational improvements' that total $1.3 billion dollars.

In your view, is this an acceptable amount of time for the State and the Native Corporations to wait before the land entitlement is 100% conveyed?

Why can the Interior Department find all kinds of money to fund Wilderness studies in ANWR and other refuges, America's Great Outdoors, and other nonsense, but cannot find the money to fully fund the Alaska Conveyance Program?

Remember, I know who runs the ship around here, and it is the lady friend.

I am disappointed in the Department's disregard not only for the Members of the Subcommittee, but for our witnesses.

the question about this initiative should not be 'why' but instead, 'how quickly can we set this in motion'?

The Administration's failure to show up today will not hold up progress on this bill.

We take this issue very seriously, because the number of permits that Interior is able to process is directly related to the revenues the tribe has available to serve its members.

We strongly support the Native American Energy Act, and our focus is actually on Section 11 of that, and it will very clearly help us reduce the Federal interference and the duplication and oversight of Federal agencies from the Navajo…

The bill must also ensure that tribes can raise tax revenues so that we can manage energy development.

The tribe supports H.R. 3973, and we believe the bill is a good start and can be expanded to provide more support for tribal energy development.

The fact is we need 10 times as many permits to be approved, and would benefit from one-stop shop.

If you are a Nation, why couldn't you offer those credits yourselves to the interested people in Kinetic Energy, et cetera?

I say this without any hesitation.