Norman D. Dicks

I thank Ranking Member Fattah for yielding to me and for his hard work on this important bill. As we begin the floor consideration of the first of the 2013 appropriations bills, I would like to state as a preface that I regret the…

I believe that the U.S. government has a responsibility to its native people.

I understand that these decisions are based upon HIV and AIDS surveillance, and I do not want to underscore the importance of providing appropriate prevention activities in these communities of color.

Our funding disappeared as a reflection of the funding shift that no longer categorized Native Americans as racially specific priority population for HIV prevention activities.

I believe that the government is turning its head away from the HIV epidemic, particularly not paying attention to the impact on the first peoples of this land.

The high rising cost of energy you are going to see the problems get worse because the budgets did not adjust to meet the needs of those people who are already in a poverty situation.

My biggest disappointment in that involvement is we keep building the Indian budgets based on previous year's budget as opposed to what the needs are.

Selective fishing is important. I may offer an amendment this year that it is a national responsibility to catch hatchery fish so that they do not breed with wild fish in the river.

Violence against women, too, by people coming from outside the reservations is a serious problem.

Norm, you have been a stalwart champion for tribes, not only in the Northwest but throughout Indian Country.

I want to take a moment to express my thanks to you for your deep personal commitment to our Nation's military veterans.

This subcommittee has always been a great source of bipartisanship within the Appropriations Committee for good reason.