I'm working with Senators from other mineral revenue-generating States to formulate legislation that would address this issue.

These State revenues are based on mineral development within State borders and are not Federal funds.

I am going to focus a couple of questions on the uranium pollution that has occurred on the Navajo Reservation and the Hopi Reservation, and this is a legacy issue that has been going on for many years.

Well, these are State revenues. I mean, they are--what we're going to do in legislation is we're going to look at making sure you don't even get your hands on them at all.

It is not only illegal but immoral for IHS (and BIA, too) to structure their budgets in such a way that they cut only tribally administered IHS and BIA programs.

I worked with Senator Murkowski and Senator Wyden on an amendment to the budget bill that brought 1872 mining law reform forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I, too, appreciate this discussion, because having critical investments and having as a priority, both publicly and privately, transportation infrastructure certainly is not something new.

there is still a federal role, there is a national interest in investing in our economy, in keeping the country together, in policy priorities

Even in that tough economic time, the president understood that it was essential to invest in infrastructure.

I want to recognize the work that Senator Bingaman did on the 2 bills relating to New Mexico today.

I think this is one of the things that makes this attractive is the per unit cost of doing a national preserve as a one off has proven to be incredibly expensive.

I think that's going to be very important just to make sure that those kind of cultural traditions are preserved as part of the fabric of this preserve moving forward.

Were the closures that Senator Manchin asked about, were they closures, complete closures to the public including pedestrians and including fishing or is it only a closure to off road vehicle use or motorized access?

Great, thank you very much.

the anticipated annual cost to operate and manage the park would be approximately $22 million.

My bill would simply designate this memorial as a national memorial in order to honor the bravery and the sacrifice of the thousands of Americans who've received this prestigious award.

I thank you.

I think the idea of designating Denali keeps faith with the native people.