I think Congress should take the lead in recognition. I think it is the right body, constitutionally.

As a Secretary of the Interior, it is our Interior Department, it is not just one party's or another.

My policy has been any Member has a privilege of being a Member, so I have... offered to come quarterly and sit down with the Minority in a group and discuss the issues...

The Department's 2018 budget reflects the Administration's commitment to strengthen America's economic and energy security.

I find myself, as the Department of the Interior, to be the champion of all things Indian, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

The government is behind on its ability to look at innovation and regulate innovation.

My commitment is that on some issues it is better to go face to face, rather than having staff-to-staff discussions.

So, using the LWCF in the spirit of how it was formed, to restore lands that would provide access to public activities, recreation, I think is an area where we would agree that the states should have more say.

I am pleased to appear before you today to discuss the 2018 President's Budget for the Department of the Interior.

I put a bill in prior to that to make sure that we truncate that approval process to make sure it takes place more quickly.

On water in the West, we committed to about $23.4 million on grants for reuse projects. Clearly, in California, water storage is an issue.

This budget does not indicate you are for it.

This is a town that has a culture of rewarding activity and not results, and we have to get focused back on outcomes here versus checking a box.

Is there anything we can do to expedite it to 2019? This is kind of like a negotiation.

I think it's making a mistake.

I look forward to working with you on it.

Forty years, it does not seem appropriate for a bypass.

trust, but verify, I think has been a very, very good phrase from President Reagan.