I think it's important for you and your team to educate them on how the Indian Health Service has really been lifted up by the Affordable Care Act.

we just need to make sure they don't try to head down that road.

I need, and the Tribes are rightfully demanding, more assurances that the administration understands the Federal Government's unique trust relationship with American Indians and Alaska Natives.

I think the reality is that this quality of care--and I wouldn't call it quality, I would say it's a shameful quality of care--has gone on for far too long.

some administrations have stepped forward with 5-year plans to wipe out backlogs

I'm perplexed by the decision in this budget to cut funding from the Indian Health Professions Program by 12 percent.

I was pleased that we were able to fund $50 million for Tribal opioid grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration budget in last year's omnibus.

I'm very pleased that this subcommittee was able to provide the largest ever appropriation for facilities construction and maintenance programs in fiscal year 2018.

I'd like your commitment that you will provide the report that this subcommittee requested on time...

Should CMS identify additional deficiencies, how will you pay for the needed improvements?

I think it's really important that you make clear the resources you need to do this because it's obviously very important in going through the stage we're going through.

I know that this funding is very important for Alaska Native villages in the Chairwoman's State.

That gets to the heart of an issue with regard to access to capital.

No one likes red tape; that is obvious. But it has been my experience that my constituents like to breathe clean air and they prefer that when they drink water it is clean water.

What's slowing innovation are barriers to capital and misguided tax policies.

I think one of the challenges is we all live in a world where there is a historical inertia.

I think it is Congress' job to set a level for what is safe, and then it is the regulator's job to try and achieve that level but try and achieve it in the most efficient ways.

Corporations are using their tax savings to buy back their stock, not to invest in plants or workers.