I could not think of a better person to be Secretary of Agriculture because you served as Governor from a rural State.

They both have been designated colonias, and they are ineligible for some USDA rural development funds.

I am also very interested in this Mission Innovation that I think you and I have spoken about.

I support a permanent line item for the Office of Technology Transitions and its critical missions.

How long will it take at current funding levels to complete work on the current priority list?

That's why I'm pleased to see we were able to provide a $10 million increase for alcohol and substance abuse treatment as part of the 2016 omnibus.

I'm very pleased to see that you've included a 14 percent increase for alcohol and substance abuse programs as part of your 2017 budget request.

It's absolutely intolerable for any IHS emergency facility to close for any amount of time, and cutbacks to essential services like obstetrics are also unacceptable.

But that's just a temporary fix, and we must do more.

I want to thank Chairman Murkowski for working with me to produce a very solid budget for the Service this year.

Madam Chairman, you've been a great champion for programs that are so critical to Native communities in both our States and throughout Indian Country.

I think it's critical that we continue to make progress on these issues.

The need is clearly there, and the community is desperate to maintain these life-saving services.

I continue to hear from tribal leaders in New Mexico, including the Mescalero Apache Tribe and others who are concerned for the well-being of their people.

So when your children stand in front of you, stand in front of the adults and say stop it, enough is enough, it is well past time to act.

But more is clearly needed. Indian Country needs better access to clinical services.

We really need these kinds of things to happen in Indian Country.

There aren't many of us who have advanced beyond our parents in this country.