Jon Tester

So my question is: Do you see any problem with the process right now of regulation on our small banks? And if so, what are we doing about it?

I think it is critically important not only for tribal lands but for all lands that are forested.

I think this would help us manage lands especially bordering our reservations.

I like your honesty.

Aren't you kind of dealing with trying to deal with the ecosystems?

At least around here, it does not matter if we are talking on committees or anywhere else, turf tends to be a big problem.

We appreciate that both Senator Tester and then Congressman Daines sent letters to Interior expressing concerns about HFPAS.

I co-sponsored the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act which would allow wildfires to be treated like other natural disasters.

We cannot continue to treat wildfires different than any other natural disaster.

Wildfire management deserves more attention and ultimately more robust action.

It requires improving interagency coordination to allow tribes and the Federal Government to more effectively address wildfire prevention and suppression.

I would like it to be the tribe.

I commend Senator Daines for reaching out regarding his bill and incorporating some of my suggestions.

As the climate continues to change, as wildfire seasons are lasting longer, producing more fires and inflicting more damage on forest lands.

I want to thank Senator Daines for his work on this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing to discuss preventing and responding to wildfire.

Just for the record, because I think it has to be said, the bailout was done during the Bush administration, and the guy on this side of the aisle did not vote for it.

The question is: Where is that line drawn? Because that is the debate we have all the time here, quite frankly.

Because I get a lot of input from my community banks, and they are critical to a rural State like Montana.

Thank you for your service, Administrator Neffenger.

If, however, Iran took steps to violate the core requirements of the agreement that affected its ability to rapidly build a nuclear weapon, I can assure you we would move very swiftly to reimpose the appropriate degree of sanctions that…

I think it is an incredible disservice to a person of your talent and your ability.

This is the damnedest hearing I have ever been at in my life, quite frankly.

In closing, I would just say that veterans see Health Net as the VA, and that is not particularly healthy for the VA.

I am probably not Health Net's favorite Senator at this point in time, but that really does not matter.