So you agree with me that this could be an expansion that we need to get parity for Native Americans who are within the Indian health system.

We need advocates, beyond this Committee, we need advocates in the Administration.

I would suggest that those at the bottom are not feeling the effects of these policies.

Good morning Chairman Hudson, Ranking Member Richmond, and Members of the subcommittee: I am Charles Edwards, Deputy Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

This isn't Cadillac, this is bare subsistence, this is bare existence. These are atrocious, appalling conditions that should not happen in this Country.

Section 8 has become irrelevant in western North Dakota.

So this very significant program across the country is not particularly responsive.

One of the biggest challenges we have today in North Dakota is housing.

The person who is working at the grocery store making $15 an hour who cannot afford to live and is living in their car do not feel so lucky.

We need to have more flexibility for other parts of the country.

I think it is really important that we operate on not emotion, but on fact.

I think it is really quite remarkable that you are all coming with about the same level of suggestions. And it is, I think a tribute to the great work that has been done by Senator Corker and Senator Warner in vetting this process to begin…

I think it is important to understand that there is a level of frustration among a lot of folks out there that we continue to talk about reform, but we never do reform.

I want to just tell you I have a particular interest in this, which is making sure small institutions are able to participate in mortgage lending to begin with before you can even get into the secondary mortgage market.

I will start with a story because I think a lot of us come to the Senate with a lot of experiences, a lot of common experiences, and I think the Senator from Alaska and I have shared this common experience of seeing the despair, looking at…

suicide is the second leading cause of death among Native American young adults ages 15 to 24. It is 2\1/2\ times the national average. The despair my great friend from the great State of Alaska has just outlined for us--it seems there is…

There has to be serious consequences for not reporting. There has to be serious consequences for lying.

Is that what we are hearing today?