We encourage the Committee to work in a bipartisan manner to take the best parts of both bills and combine them into a comprehensive community care bill.

water is life. Without that, we are nothing.

We invest in infrastructure to provide clean drinking water and irrigation for tribal and non-tribal members.

As Senator Tester noted, water is life, not only for our communities, it is the lifeblood of our number one industry, agriculture.

The St. Mary's canal system... is critical for the Hi-Line communities and agriculture.

I have been critical of past VA administrations because of the failure to do more outreach.

We respect Senator Daines and the work he did for us, and Senator Tester.

I would recommend the Not Just a Number Act.

It's crucial that we listen to the concerns of Indigenous communities.

I've always said there are places where it is appropriate to develop and where it's not.

I have been critical of past VA administrations because of the failure to do more outreach.

For the purview of the Committee, the St. Mary's project is an engineering marvel.

If the next release happens next summer, next rollout, that represents a 1-year delay in what we have been doing here.

This is a historic day for the Fort Belknap Indian Community and for folks across north central Montana.

What we do not want to see is, we do not want to see smoking as a barrier for veterans not going to get the care that they need.

I just can't express my appreciation enough.

VA's focus should remain on how veterans can receive the care they need, whether it is inside or outside of its facilities.

I have said it before, and I will say it again, because my Native American friends taught me this: water is life.