I just want to acknowledge, and again when we think about health disparities, so many of the other contributing factors that are at play.

Thank you for the hearing today and the focus on these disparities. We have some startling statistics in my state, I would say they are alarming.

just about a month ago, I was on the floor. Senator Durbin from Illinois was here. We were on the floor at that time to ask for unanimous consent to pass legislation to fix a technical issue with the VOCA deposit. As my colleagues will…

We must ensure that we are doing everything we can to support our tribal communities.

I have been proud to work on many legislative efforts to protect the vulnerable, whether that is supporting Native children, reducing domestic violence against Native women, or addressing the ongoing epidemic of missing or murdered…

It`s kind of a big gulp. It sounds to me like their approach to paying for $3.5 trillion packages to increase taxes. And if that`s the case, I don`t think you`re going to have a single Republican.

That's kind of a big gulp.

I believe that it indicates that you are making a serious commitment to provide support to our nations veterans who are facing desperate situations.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The VICE PRESIDENT. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I am worried that this may happen at the VA, where we continually appropriate money at the problem but don't see improvement in the situation.

I appreciate that the Department is increasing its request for suicide prevention initiatives to $598 million dollars.

this afternoon, we will have before us, as Members of the Senate, legislation that is entitled the For the People Act. Before I speak to the For the People Act, S. 1, I want to make clear to colleagues that I have been keenly focused…

Well, it is really encouraging to hear you say this, because it is really all encompassing.

the current Posture Review would have you looking at your resources available and drive your decisionmaking on re-aligning headquarters and forces in Alaska

I want to acknowledge and thank my colleague and friend from Illinois for his leadership on this issue. He has outlined well the situation in front of us with regard to the status of the Crime Victims Fund. Again, this is a nontaxpayer…

I think we recognize we are seeing regional competition, we are seeing a level of activity in the region from those that--who would have ever thought that the interest would be coming from China.

I have long advocated for our country to pay greater attention to the region.

I believe the requests made in the defense spending document are inadequate to maintain serious regional competition from the United States in the Arctic region.

China's investments in the Arctic have gone from $150B in 2012 to over $300B today.

We can't continue to rely on resources from others, I think we recognize that right now, we rely more heavily on China for these critical minerals.

Right now the Arctic is not a hot spot, and I think we all would agree, we want to keep it from becoming so.

I respect that. I know that Alaskans are looking forward to your promised visit later this summer...

Senator Murkowski and I have legislation to fix this problem and to make sure that these sacred items can't be exported for sale at auction houses in Europe.

This action serves political interests while obstructing Alaska's economy and putting our Nation's energy security at greater risk.

I appreciate the efforts that are being made as we try to address the issues surrounding missing, murdered American Indians, Alaska Natives.