the operating tempo has been drastically increased so the number of training days for National Guard soldiers went from 60 to 90.

We know this increase in training days is important.

when someone's hourly wage increase for a job that they are doing is cut from $21 to 11--to $14 an hour, it sends a message to the people who had been previously doing this job: You can work for less money, or your work is not valued.

I find this budget to be completely out of balance with the needs of the American people.

But Mr. Cole is fighting for every penny he can get.

I share your concern about that, especially Native languages.

There was very poor consultation with all the Tribes when the State was looking at changing the sulfate standard levels.

I am very proud of the Great Lakes Nations who have been up here testifying--but it just goes to show the obligation for maintaining clean water.

The sooner we start predicting the cost and putting up a budget for this, the better.

children who learn a second language do much better in school.

I think one of the frustrations, besides what the chairman mentioned, is that we are trying to figure out different financing mechanisms, loans, repayments, grants, and such.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think a theme that we were not hearing as articulately put until you raised it, Mr. Miller, is your very rural areas and rural schools--whether tribal nation schools, or rural schools, or rural hospitals--are all…