I have always said I did not think that the Roadless Rule made any sense in a place where it is an area that is just made up of islands, 32 island communities.

It is also time to execute a multipronged federal-state-local strategy to meet the increasing challenges presented by wildland fire in a cost-efficient manner.

I would like to confirm my understanding that the term Indian Health Service as it appears in section 101 of the MISSION Act of 2018 includes Tribal health providers that are funded by the Indian Health Service and step into the shoes of…

I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with my friend and colleague, the distinguished chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Isakson. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

They will be included.

We don't want to have a silo, separate, program that looks at our prescriptions.

This budget does not help to address the true needs when it comes to so many who are in a very vulnerable place.

What is being provided to our Native people around the country is not adequate, and we must do better.

The need is clearly there, it's clearly established.

You simply cannot attract them if you have substandard facilities, and you can't attract them if you have housing issues.

As I understand the budget proposal, it effectively overrides the 105(l) with this 'notwithstanding' clause that would make these lease payments entirely discretionary within the agency, effectively overturning the Maniilaq decision.

this administration needs to work with Congress and make funding for Tribal health programs a greater priority.

Our reality is that we have not done right by American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

As you know, we have broadband in Alaska that is spotty at best.

Senator Udall is again a very strong leader there.

we're a pretty clear example of you have an IHS facility, you've got an emergency room out in the Mat-Su Valley, you've got a clinic, you've got a VA, a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) that's there, and you could literally have an…

we're still not providing all the resources on the ground we need to address preventive care or to attack the epidemic level of mental health and addiction issues that Native communities are fighting to overcome.

Let me ask about staffing packages. Again this is kind of an annual question for me, just making sure that we're tracking.

I think we all recognize, as you say, the sobering statistics, the sobering reality that far too many of our Native people around the country face, whether in Montana, New Mexico, or Alaska. It is not acceptable.

One of my great frustrations at the time was trying to get exactly the data that you have referenced broken out that would be specific to my State.

I just have a couple more if I may. And I want to take it back to the facilities and facilities construction and maintenance and my concern.

Certainly, IHS shares the concern about the opioid epidemic.

I am very concerned that the budget request does not adequately meet the needs for healthcare delivery in Indian Country.

I don't understand how, in all good conscience, you can recommend such a significant reduction to this account, over 40 percent.

When we say $150 million if the Department of Health and Human Services determines that they're going to shift this over here in the IHS account, to me that's not acceptable.