Jon Tester

Do you believe that the Web site, FracFocus, provides sufficient information to the public?

If there isn't public trust that this technology can be used safely, that will inhibit its future development.

What progress has EPA made in conducting outreach to the folks in production agriculture?

We don't sacrifice one resource for another.

I think it can help contribute to our energy independence. I also think it could create some jobs in rural America where we need a few more.

Clean air and clean water is important for economic development. It's also the basis of life.

The last one, and then I will kick it over to my Ranking Member.

I just do not understand why this is something that cannot be accomplished based upon the nature of this legislation, its importance, its value to the country, and its bipartisan support.

Without the Corps performing the certifications, how is the process working in your respective States?

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses this morning about the importance of long-term reauthorization and reform of the National Flood Insurance Program.

I think we have an opportunity here to reform this program and put it on more firm ground with a long-term extension.

The unprecedented flooding in the Mississippi River basin last year further drove home the necessity of passing a long-term reauthorization that offers Americans and Montanans certainty in the face of risk.

Without an extension, in a matter of weeks policyholders and insurers will be in limbo; realtors and homeowners will be forced to put closings on hold contingent on reauthorization of this program.

I do not think flood insurance should be controversial or partisan either. It impacts everybody.

In Montana it is not working at all.

We have been down this road before and have seen how unproductive and destructive lapses of this program can be.

There is a stigma in this country, and probably in the world, but definitely in America, attached to mental health issues, injuries.

We are not going to get our arms around this. You guys have been dealt this hand with multiple deployments.

I put myself on the line for the VA every day because you guys have got a big job to do.

I think you ought to do it in every VISN you have. That is just my opinion because that is totally unacceptable.

We need to take that into consideration when we start allocating dollars for the VA, to make sure that they have the advantage to be able to compete.

I just think it is all hands on deck.

Just from a rural perspective, I will tell you that one of the reasons the VA cannot contract out in a rural State like Montana is because the private sector does not have any more mental health professionals than the VA has.

Why should farmers and ranchers trust CME in the future to regulate and be able to protect their money?

I do not really want to give any benefits whatsoever to anybody who caused this debacle, and 'debacle' is not a tough enough word.