"So, that is my question and you can feel free to expound on this because I have always felt that culture should be playing a huge part in what happens to the groups."
"to me culture is like a tree. If you cut the tree from the roots, which is a culture, you know, there is a huge loss of something."
"From the Constitution, it is clear our Founding Fathers understood the sovereign authority of Tribal nations and their governments."
"This Country made treaties with the Indian Tribes, just as we did with a diversity of foreign nations."
"I would like to reiterate this Administration's commitment to the government-to-government relationship with tribes."
"All of us here in this room and the Committee staff, all will have to continue to educate our colleagues here in the Congress to know as much as they can about our indigenous people."
"The policy of banning Native language use in schools was adopted by the Territory of Hawaii."
"this Government needs to continue to adjust those changes as we move along in the best interests of the people."
"Overall, these policies of assimilation failed to meet the Federal trust responsibility to Native peoples."
"I think sequestration itself would have a negative impact."
"Presidents Johnson and Nixon respectively introduced policies supporting Tribal self-determination."
"A government-to-government relationship would make things much more effective and would allow us to manage our resources in a way that better meets the needs of our people."
"At my request, I want to tell the panel, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report last week that highlighted troubling vulnerabilities in the security of radiological materials used ..."
"I will miss all of this and the friendships and the work here, but I know you will carry it on."
"I introduced the Save More Tomorrow Act, which will encourage Federal employees to add to their retirement savings."
"I want to thank the two of you for your excellent work that you have been doing for our country."
"Your advocacy on behalf of Federal employees, from your efforts to ensure fair pay and benefits to your actions to protect collective bargaining rights, will be truly missed."
"You have stood firm when folks have said, cut Federal employee pay. Cut their retirement. Cut their benefits."
