Mark Begich

ANCSA corporations are among the State's top employers, providing jobs for more than 30,000 people.

For those of us who believe in the free market system, as I do, the transition to the private sector is especially admirable.

The story of Alaskan Native people is one of unprecedented success.

The issues we explore today are vitally important for my constituents and especially for the Native people of Alaska.

But why didn't you restate that, then, if that was such, as I saw, an important piece of the equation?

Yes, but your analysis here kind of makes it sound like they have these huge contracts and they are making this huge amount of money.

Because that is what matters, is what flows to the owners.

So there is a different responsibility.

So I guess when you say explosive, you are----

When I look at the women-owned business in 1 year alone, they grew almost double.

I do not disagree. I have been in small business for 25 years.

Right. Do you see a difference there in the sense of how they generate contracts and value...

Do you see any difference in the sense of what they should be able to do or not do?

As Senator Begich has noted, our Native people live in some of the poorest, most geographically and most economically isolated places in the country.

I believe Alaska Native participation in the 8(a) program overall has been one of the most successful programs this government has done.

But it does drive some questions for me. And I appreciate the Ranking Member's effort in this area, and I actually support this idea.

Thank you very much for your comments regarding broadband and how important that is in the placement in Alaska.

We appreciate New Jersey being a very large donor state to the Universal Service Fund.

I am absolutely supportive and I am a beneficiary of the E-Rate program and will do all in my power to see that it is enforced.

It is a critical path to delivery because we do not have a VA hospital, for one.

Telemedicine is a very powerful tool, and it is very valuable in a lot of ways.

I want to thank you for your service, and also for your insight in the day-to-day utilization of the VA services.

I know there is a big commitment from the president in regards to dollars for the Veterans Administration, which is great.

From a funding level, is there enough resources for what you need in some of the leasing of the space that is occurring as well as future construction, and what will be necessary to expand these facilities to meet the women veterans' needs?

How big would you say that universe is if you could measure it in volume of people? Is it a few thousand? Is it tens of thousands?