I support the Administration's recent action to deny the current route and evaluate other alternatives.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for giving me this extra time, and thank you very much for weighing in on what I think is a really critical issue for us to deal with.

So where that takes me is that in areas of significant interest by Congress or the public, there needs to be an additional venue where this original security classification decision can be reconsidered in the light of broader issues.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

One thing this committee ought to be able to agree on today is that there have been some abusive and predatory practices occurring against our men and women in the military.

I hope that we'll see it finalized quickly in November when we return for the lame-duck session.

Thank you very much.

While we must improve Federal law to create stronger legal deterrence, we also need to change the hearts and minds of art collectors and dealers who may have engaged in this activity.

A statute that's designed to meet the needs or to address the crime at-hand would be better.

Would there be changes to NAGPRA that would result in more cases being prosecuted specifically under that statute...

I take my responsibility for representing Indian Country in Washington very seriously.

It would prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal patrimony.

One of them was changing the legal definition of provenance or ownership, do you have specific language in mind for that?

It's always good to have more hands, although, I would not represent that necessarily as a Departmental position.

That Shield belongs to the Pueblo of Acoma. Inherently, it belongs to us.

I think that's an important distinction. I think both of us would love to work with you on that front.

I take great pride in working with New Mexico's tribal communities.

But the problem still exists. The enforcement of those laws has not been strong enough.