I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you. I would like to thank all of the members of the subcommittee for your important work, and hope this Fiscal Year's bill is as good as the excellent legislation passed out last year.

Eliminating the NEA would, in essence, eliminate investment by the American government in the curiosity and intelligence of its citizens.

We ask the subcommittee to continue our partnership by funding the RPI line item at no less than the fiscal year 2017 levels.

Our people are more susceptible to environmental contamination than the general public because we subsist so much on fish, game, and berries.

Cheese is for wearing on your head, not for eating.

I am confident the committee will uphold the Federal Government's trust responsibility to Native Americans and oppose the White House's harmful budget cuts.

Education is the key to our tribe's future.

As far as EPA is concerned, you know, we want to make sure that EPA does their core functions...

We will honor the trust responsibility that all Members of Congress have, not just those of us that are here participating with you today.

We urge the subcommittee to ensure the trust responsibility is upheld during the Fiscal Year 2018 budget and appropriations process.

The Federal budget is a reflection of that commitment.

I implore you to lead the change within Congress that is necessary to improve how the United States views, honors, and fulfills its promises to Indian Country.

We like to say culture is the cure.

This violation of the Federal trust responsibility must never happen again.

We are very concerned about the funding cuts being proposed by President Trump for the EPA.

This country cannot afford to leave anybody behind who wants to enter the workforce and be part of the future of this country.

For this reason, we ask that the subcommittee consider including language in its report directing the Interior Department to work with the tribes in Maine to identify ways to address the impact of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act.

In fact, two members of this subcommittee, Ms. McCollum and Mr. Cole, signed onto an amicus brief for one of those cases, and we are very grateful for that support.