"Given what you know of the operation and maintenance needs in Alaska villages today, there are a couple of questions here for you."
"Alaskans living in communities without access to running water are five times more likely to be hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections."
"It should shock us as Alaskans. It should shock us as Americans that basic, basic matters like safe water, drinking water, basic sanitation needs are still so unmet in so many places."
"If we could finish a project in three years, we would be happy. It just doesn't happen when your building season is really like three months long."
"This is an issue we probably want to come back to and have a discussion with the Assistant Secretary as well."
"According to the IHS, one in ten Native Americans lacks access to clean water or indoor plumbing."
"The Infrastructure Bill restricts program support funding to Federal activities, which means the tribes that operate there, the projects directly, can't access this."
"But as we know, unfortunately, it is not the case for far too many of our Native communities."
"We absolutely agree that operation and maintenance funds are necessary to ensure that sanitation facilities projects can remain functional for their entire usable life."
"We are seeing some improvement, we are starting to see some gains, connecting homes to sewer and water treatment systems in villages like Akiachak and Stebbins."
"It was a really offensive statement by probably somebody who was not very well informed."