But the Government--again, I know you would know the law better than I, but I thought the Government has not taken full ownership...

I again want to thank you for your leadership on this issue.

I certainly want to applaud your nomination, and I appreciate the productive meeting that we had recently on so many issues.

I think we have to maximize that potential, become singularly focused in coordinating that under one person that reports to you.

I want to begin by thanking Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Hastings for calling this hearing and for this bill to come before us.

I think we are all very excited about the opportunity to continue to roll out broadband.

We have to really focus on jobs.

I think that the USTR has sort of conflicting missions, negotiating trade agreements and then having to enforce them.

We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can obviously to help them out.

I had the opportunity to serve with Governor Locke during my tenure as Governor.

I just think that is so important in this day and age when we are losing jobs to make sure that we are dealing with a level playing field when it comes to trade enforcement.

We are honored to be testifying here today alongside the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Timothy Kaine, who, in his inaugural address, pledged his strong support for Federal recognition of these Virginia Indian tribes and has…

It is important that as a component of our national defense strategy, we support and protect President Obama's request of a $4.5 billion increase in next year's international affairs budget.

It would be unwise for us to ignore the roll of diplomacy in the necessity for defense operational spending.

Neither of these reasons should stand as a bar to recognition of these tribes.

These applications have been denied as incomplete.

Recognition of a tribe conveys a unique set of benefits, legal immunities and responsibilities.

To begin, I want to thank the Chair for your leadership on this issue and your support for the Virginia tribes.