Jon Tester

Pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, I move to waive all applicable sections of that act for purposes of the pending measure. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coons). Is there a sufficient…

Yes. I understood that, given the requirement that Section 1735 imposed on Congress, this provision would not and should not apply within or to the State of Maine unless Congress specifically so provided. Knowing that Section 1735 operated…

No. I understand that the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act not only recognized the uniqueness and significance of that jurisdictional arrangement but specifically provided that, following the enactment of the Settlement Act, no future…

It is really up to Congress to make a determination as to how to either allow a consolidation of the new claim or expand upon that claim

I agree, if we can get more Native Americans out there in positions of importance, and there are a lot of them in government, I think it helps everybody.

NCLB has had a lot of things wrong with it.

Most if not all of the challenges that Indian Country faces revolve around poverty.

I want to thank you for your advocacy for Native Americans across this Country.

One of the hopes and dreams that I have is to see a growing number of U.S. ambassadors who are Native American.

I think that it solve a whole bunch of problems, as to a basis for the beginning of an understanding of where you have been.

I am proud to represent the interests of Native Americans, not only from Montana but also around the Country.

As the majority leader pointed out, this Sportsmen's Act is a compilation of 19 bills. Hunting season has already started. This bill benefits 90 million Americans who hunt, fish, and watch wildlife, supported by 56 groups from the Nature…

One more point. If this farm bill goes away in 17 days, the farmers out there who need help from the bank to get an operating loan to continue on the next year, what will happen to those folks?

And if it is extended, would it, in fact, cost the taxpayers? That $23 billion would not only go away, but wouldn't the taxpayers have to pay for any kind of disaster extension?

So if we combine that with the safety net, if we don't do a farm bill, as the House wants to do, and just have an extension, what will happen to that $23 billion in taxpayer savings?

That is why I have voted for the Affordable Care Act that permanently reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, a bill that I was proud to cosponsor.

I will continue working to improve access to care in Indian country until everyone has access to quality health care.

Thank you for inviting me to share a few words, and thank you for bringing attention to an important issue that we all work on: health care access in Indian country.

Water is sacred to our people and is the lifeblood for our permanent homeland.

Our priority in the settlement negotiations was to have a source for clean drinking water.

Over the past year the cost of dysfunction here in Washington has caused volatility in the financial markets, frustration on Wall Street, and uncertainty in an already tenuous economic recovery.

One of the things I don't understand is why the ICBMs, which were the most cost-effective of the triad, are the ones that are being eliminated.

When they say they're reducing their stockpile, are they really? You know what I mean? I mean trust and verify stuff.

Well, anytime transparency and accountability is an intimidation, that means there is a different agenda behind that money. I say that I think the DISCLOSE Act is a well-crafted, smart bill that allows transparency and accountability in…

Tribal recognition should be based on history, culture and science, not politics.