NIEA commends Chairman Dorgan for his tremendous efforts to ensure that Indian Country is included in the stimulus package.

the finally enacted economic recovery package must include provisions that specifically direct funds toward tribal governments' infrastructure and capital needs

Senator Dorgan's request of $344 million for new construction of K-12 school facilities and $150 million for maintenance and repair of K-12 school facilities is similar to NIEA's request.

Today the Committee is going to examine the need for infrastructure and job creation on Indian lands and in Indian Country in this Nation of ours.

The notion that there is fresh, unaccounted for Indian housing funding in HUD's account is simply not true.

I come here today to offer my full backing to President Obama's nomination of Dr. Jamie Morin to serve as the next Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management.

Middle-income families are really stressed.

the budget, in my view, speaks to the priorities of our Nation; it speaks to how the Federal Government is going to be a partner in dealing with the problems of our country.

the Federal Government's role has shrunk over the past few years.

I think this is an important time where urgent action needs to be taken on some energy issues.

I believe very strongly in energy efficiency. We need to work hard on this.

I applaud those 15 Senators, led by Chairman Dorgan and Vice Chairman Murkowski, who on January 9, 2009, issued a letter to President-elect Obama outlining the billions of dollars in 'shovel-ready' projects.

While I am happy to note that the January 9th letter proposed $4.4 million for energy development on Indian lands, I must say that this amount is woefully inadequate to meet the need for tribal energy project development.

On January 9, 2009, Committee leadership, together with 13 other U.S. Senators, issued a letter to President Obama urging the inclusion of billions of dollars in Indian tribal projects in the economic stimulus plan.

Debt has to be paid back.

I think it is going to need more impetus to help us get the housing sector back on track and clear the inventory that is out there.

Now is a good time to address the entitlement issues, which is critical.

We need to be able to move forward with that process to provide some certainty to investors.