Jon Tester

I just think that it has been an ongoing problem particularly in rural and frontier areas like Montana.

We still do not have staffing at this point in time as far as psychiatrists.

This is not in the GP area. This is an area that is much more difficult in my opinion.

The veterans are very appreciative of that as was I.

I appreciate seeing Secretary Shinseki and all of the folks on the panel today.

I acknowledge we are short of large airtankers.

Senator Barrasso has introduced a bill, S. 1684, the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2011, that addresses a few issues, but much more is needed.

Congress should clearly affirm the exclusive authority of tribal governments to tax activities on Indian lands.

I ask Congress to correct this mistake and exempt Indian and tribal trust lands from the BLM fee.

You are absolutely correct.

We need to work together to figure that out. I would be interested in doing that in a big, big way.

I see no good reason for the BLM fee to be so high on Indian and tribal trust lands.

Are you familiar with an act that I have co-sponsored call the HEARTH Act, that would allow Tribes to make surface leasing decisions after the Secretary approves a leasing program?

I don't know whether to ask this question of you, Jodi, or you, Tracey. But are you familiar with a policy developed in the Energy Policy Act 2005, as it gives Tribes the opportunity to develop energy by developing Tribal energy resource…

I guess the question I have is, it is my understanding these grants are very difficult to get.

One of my concerns is, and I think it is quite obvious, we can have grant programs, but if Tribes, because of whatever reasons, the entity that they are, or whatever reasons, aren't eligible to get those grants, it really puts them behind…

Is it time to have a setaside for Indian Country for some of these grants?

I think that one of the things that bothers me about this, and make no mistake about it... why hasn't it been disclosed?

I appreciate the comments.

This hearing is important because energy development in Indian Country has the potential to improve lives for everybody that lives in Indian Country and indeed, the entire United States.

I think we need to do more to help our tribes develop their energy resources.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I want to make sure that our Tribes have the opportunity to take advantage of the traditional forms of energy and the emerging renewable energy markets.

One important step toward a healthy market is resolving and addressing the missed contact, which you addressed, that hurt homeowners, that pushed them into foreclosure.

You feel confident that there are entities in place that can force the settlement to go into rural America.