literally lives have been put at risk because of that system, and we need to make sure that it is functioning properly, fully functional before it is rolled out at any other site.

The Great American Outdoors Act solved that. As long as the money goes to infrastructure and not studies, I think we will be in pretty good shape.

We cannot delay. And for those folks out there that think the VA will survive without a competitive market for hiring employees, they are wrong.

My understanding is the railroad has the lead on cleanup. Is that true?

The biggest complaint is probably how long it takes, and we just had a roundtable session here a bit ago in Montana, and I believe the last one was around 10 months, which is insanely, ridiculously long, and the other one is pay.

So my question to you is what new and existing systems will be in place to promote retention and high performance if the CAREERS Act were to pass?

I have called on Presidents of both parties... to reengage on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

I don't think this is going to happen without somebody like you in your position as Secretary of interior intervening and making this a priority.

As the gentleman from Oregon has said, that we have made a lot of promises but not a lot of promises kept.

It is just flat unacceptable.

So I talked about the timeframes--and this is for either one of you--the timeframes to hire.

Are you also aware that Northern Minnesota is home to those critical minerals that are necessary for EV and our Defense Department?

The disasters that are being caused by climate this year is just absolutely devastating in.

I think the tribal pay is even worse.

I would agree. Lastly, the Good Neighbor Program. Let's talk about something that is good.

And also these mills, we have to guarantee them, to a degree, enough material so they can survive.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

So EV world. We know that Russia, China, and perhaps our adversaries, have the market share of materials, whether it is lithium, whether it is cobalt.