What a better way to encourage self-determination than to allow tribes to manage their own affairs.

Can you tell me, are those kind of take it or leave it or are those negotiable?

So you have requested modification, but there has been no response back.

I think it is critically important that we continue to put the pressure on DOI.

I think it is important that we don't simply hit a hurdle of an absentee landowner and then back away from that process.

We have set a policy in this body and going forward of tribal self-determination.

In fact, approximately a third of all production in North Dakota actually occurs on the reservation.

I think given how difficult it is right now to get something changed in statute, we need to continue to push for accommodation in the implementation process that we have.

I know how passionately, from our tribal governments and obviously, I think every one of the tribes in North Dakota is in the top 40.

I want to follow up a little bit on the appraisal issue, because I think from what the Deputy Secretary said, it is appraisals that have been a challenge.

One of the things we hear back is that they have found that the negotiating process for a cooperative agreement is complex and can be burdensome.

I think allowing that flexibility for each tribe to craft that appraisal scheme how they deem best would probably be the best approach.

It would be a travesty for that money to disappear and not be used.

That adds for administrative delays and red tape that we have been bogged down with.

We are here today to talk about energy--energy for our country but also energy for our allies. This is a discussion not just about energy, it is about jobs, good-paying jobs. It is also about economic growth. It is about generating tax…

I turn to the good Senator from Arizona for any final comments. Seeing that he doesn't have any, I thank him. I also thank the good Senator from Wyoming and ask if there are any final comments he might have on the legislation. He has been…

I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.

I would respond briefly to the Senator from Arizona and then turn to the Senator from Wyoming on that issue as well for more detail on the legislation. He has tremendous expertise in this area and has been working on it for a long time…