I want to assure everybody there is no attempt in this bill to lose the trust responsibility to the tribes.

I interpret this to mean the Secretary believes tribal lands are really public lands that belong to all American people.

nobody consults with you guys, really, in seriousness. They will tell you why you can't do it, but they won't help you get it done.

I want you to know that. If we have to have them, I believe in the one-stop shop.

I have been in this business 40 years, and I have heard the same story, 'We are going to do better next time.'

the President by his own words has acknowledged that the reason he appointed these individuals had nothing to do with the only justification the Justice Department offered in support of his exercise of power.

I appreciate that transition to transmission.

The President must think that the rules he and his Senate Democratic colleagues developed to hamstring President Bush do not apply to him.

the President is concentrating the power of appointment in the Executive Branch alone.

But never before in this country's history has a President made a recess appointment during a time when the Senate was not actually in recess.

Even President Bush, who my friends on the other side of the aisle assailed for taking unilateral executive action, refused to provoke a constitutional crisis by making recess appointments while the Senate was meeting regularly in pro…

Congress should refuse to accept the legality of these appointments.

your attention to the tribes, not only in the budget but also in your responses to questions today is certainly important.

Do you believe that eliminating Western's borrowing authority would increase or decrease the likelihood of these kinds of transmission projects?

One of the things we could do to work together is to alleviate that.

So you would be open, as long as you could streamline the process to make sure that adequate protections were in there for the tribe, for the tribal members, as well?

I have learned that more has to be done, and I support the approach that this Subcommittee is taking.

I appreciate the mentorship and advocacy that has come from Chairman Young in these areas.