Jon Tester

I feel very good about the progress fuel cell manufacturers have made and will continue to make in reducing the amount of platinum used in these catalysts.

And I will tell you that for that reason, Senator Baucus and I are dropping in legislation that gives COE not only the authority but the responsibility to certify those.

I think that there has to be an awakening here, if we are going to invest in infrastructure, that investment means spending money.

The fact is that there has got to be oversight and there also has to be some common sense put to the analysis.

I will tell you that water, whether it is where it flows into the ocean or whether it is at the headwaters in a State like mine, is very, very important, and if we do not have the infrastructure to manage it, we will not manage it and the…

Water is our most valuable resource and the management of it is critically important.

Senator Baucus and I are dropping in legislation that gives COE not only the authority but the responsibility to certify those.

There has got to be oversight and there also has to be some common sense put to the analysis.

I think there are a lot of Great Falls, Montana up and down the different drainages in this country.

We have talked about American Indians. They have a high rate of enlist----

For them not to be able to certify, I think unless you can tell me a reason why not, that is a major, major problem.

We cannot hire enough nurses in our hospitals around the country.

I was encouraged to see your office launch a pilot program that provided outreach to unemployed rural veterans.

I think that one, you should shorten that window. You know, 90 days is the magic number when you are separating out of the military.

I think if we gave the public an option to really invest in our veterans, I think we will see an increase in money coming to us, whether it is through employment funds or through direct taxation.

I think that is a critically important perspective to have when you are setting up these programs.

I think it is good work, and you get all the kudos in the world for working to get our vets employed.

It has always been my assumption that VA looked to veterans first and if they do not, they should.

One of the things that the President has talked about in every program is that you cut down the silos, you work across alliances, reduce duplication, and you become more efficient.

I cannot help to think that there is not a lot of overlap.

I mean, any teacher knows there is an opportunity to get through at a certain moment in time and if you do not take advantage of that moment in time, it is gone.

I wish the director of the VA was here, because I can tell you in Montana, we are looking for medical professionals all the time.

I too want to express my appreciation for each and every one of your service to this country.

Is there anything we can do to reach those folks?

It's critically important that we get a better idea of what services they could best utilize to get back into the workforce.