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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

This means that IHS can no longer bill for Medicare and Medicaid services and that in many instances tribal members will have to travel long distances to get care.

The unemployment rate there is totally unacceptable. It is near 50 percent.

This Promise Zone would really make a difference.

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

Thank you very much for that initiative, because I have many communities in my State that I think need that kind of initiative.

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

I've introduced a bill with the Chairman, Senator Murkowski, that will make the IHS Health Professions Awards Program exempt from a Federal income tax requirement.

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

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

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