I have found in some agencies... an unwillingness to speak the language of the tribes.

We are well behind in the construction of how are we going to facilitate our icebreaking fleet.

I have been a member of the Indian Affairs Committee since I came to the United States Senate 20 years ago.

If you have greater resources, it would seem to me reasonable that this would certainly free that up. Would you not agree?

We should be working together to try to figure out how we can solve some of these problems...

just having a strategy is nothing if we do not resource it.

I am all eyes on the Arctic all the time.

So you don't consider that outreach, do you?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We are lagging and a commercially available icebreaker is just going to be a gap-filler.

Alaska is really the first line of defense for our nation up there.

Let's visit on that because I'd also like to talk to you about the potential for the Ukrainian people that have come to Alaska.

We are well behind in the construction of how are we going to facilitate our icebreaking fleet.

I would ask that our teams sit down and talk about this, because as we are talking about it, you have a deadline that is coming up with opportunities for grant funding that is going to make a difference to tribes.

It's kind of embarrassing to think that a country like India is going to have an icebreaker in the water before we would.

If we can resolve some of these things quickly to allow for these applications to be submitted, and again, to take advantage of this, that is where we are going to make a difference.

I understand the Navy is collaborating with the Coast Guard in designing the Polar Security Cutters.

Native people pay more for electricity as a percentage of their household income than any other demographic out there.

I would encourage you to do that.

So when we are able to come together through these consortia, it makes a world of difference.

Thank you for the time.

There shouldn't be any ambiguity to it. To us, that is legislative intent, and it is specified.

I understand the Navy is collaborating with the Coast Guard in designing the Polar Security Cutters.

For far too long, we hear about these programs, we hear about the funding that we have put, outlined in legislation, in law with specific, specific set-asides for tribal interests.

I am all eyes on the Arctic all the time.