This legislation would implement the settlement agreement that has been carefully negotiated between Ohkay Owingeh, the State of New Mexico, neighboring water users and the United States.

This legislation would implement the settlement agreement that has been carefully negotiated between Ohkay Owingeh, the State of New Mexico, neighboring water users and the United States.

What is clear to me is that there are provisions included in this legislation that support the restoration of the Rio Chama and the bosque, which I appreciate and I applaud.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Vice Chair Murkowski as well, for holding this important legislative hearing today.

Investments in the health and resilience of our forests not only reduces the risk of severe wildfires, it promotes the important bonds that many tribes have to the land and to cultural resources.

After this legislation become law, which I hope will happen during this Congress, I look forward to working with you in the years to come to restore the health of the river and the bosque for the pueblo and all others in that community as well.

I look forward to continuing our partnership to get this water settlement over the finish line.

I know everyone listening today who is paying attention to this important hearing, there should be no question of the broad support that Vice Chair Murkowski has on this legislation.

I am pleased today to introduce Larry Phillips, Jr., the Governor of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo who is here to provide testimony today.

We thank Representative Leger Fernandez for raising workforce issues.

This will have a significant impact on the delivery of health services in Indian Country.

I completely agree with you with regards to that, because we cannot be letting this requirement... sap resources from the rest of IHS.

We can produce more with less and feed everybody.

Congress must pass a disaster supplemental as soon as possible.

We need Congress and the Administration to make the right decisions if we want to avoid doubling down on world hunger.

The stakes of farming are so incredibly high--higher than I ever remember them to be.

We are experiencing unprecedented rates of global hunger.

I appreciate the willingness of the Department of the Interior in working with me and my office to address prohibitions impacting the settlements from being able to fully see the potential of the funds.