Jon Tester

Thank you, Jefferson. We'll start out with you, Larry.

Our transportation infrastructure is critical to economic development, creating jobs and improving the lives of everybody who lives in Indian country.

The situation is getting better. Our hearing today is progress. But we have more work to do, much more work to do.

Transportation is very important for the Indian people. It directly affects health, safety and economic matters including jobs and the ability to attract businesses.

The IRR formula that the BIA is using, and that the Federal Land Highway Office is supporting, is now broken.

Fatalities throughout the country were decreasing at 2.2 percent and increasing in Indian country by 52 percent.

Overall, do you have any idea of how many jobs were either saved or created by those dollars?

I would contend once again that if we're going to keep this system the way it is, it's unfair, inaccuracies being reported and not being corrected, then change the name from IRR to something else, State Highway Fund or Extra County Fund…

Reaching out, getting input is critically important.

How do you plan to include tribes and getting their perspective as far as that Highway Bill when it comes up?

That would be great. LeRoy.

The Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have laid out a vision for forests in the United States.

Well, I would just say that if these figures are correct, as I would expect, I believe you would do your best to try to reduce that administrative overhead to get those benefits for the soldiers.

I also believe it is important that the process for determining service connections prevents or limits at a minimum fraudulent claims from being made.

The one most basic responsibility of our government and this Committee in particular is to care for the veterans' for the injuries that they have suffered in the defense of this country.

I think that is the whole point here. I think everybody that earned a benefit should get it, they should get it ASAP.

I do not think anyone here expects the rules expanding presumptive eligibility for Agent Orange veterans that the VA issued earlier to be changed.

Is it within your purview or do you plan on making recommendations to FEMA in cases like that, how they can deal with communities in a way that does not drive families into bankruptcy?

There are only a couple private companies out there--Chubb, Lloyd's of London, I think there are two more--that will go ahead and even address flood insurance with people.

Have you been able to determine whether FEMA has worked with communities to help mitigate the economic impact of the new maps?

The GAO has been really focused on the integrity of the National Flood Insurance Program.

I think we are all interested in that.

How does Montana get to be more than a blip?

I think this cuts across everybody, rich, poor, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents.

How does Montana get a fair shot at any sort of investment when, quite honestly, we don't have a population base?