Jon Tester

In Montana, we have got a 2-year backlog on vouchers. How is this program going to impact that 2-year backlog?

I really do look forward to the pilot project.

I want to remind folks that by some estimates 7 percent of homeless veterans on any given night are in rural or frontier areas of our country.

Do you feel comfortable that you are getting the numbers?

I do applaud Secretary Shinseki's call to end homelessness among veteran populations. This is the right goal.

I anticipate, I mean--I think it is something that is critically important and would go a step further to say, when you make that announcement, I would love to have you do it in Montana where you would have a willing audience.

We look forward to the proposals in the next few months.

The reality is that folks in rural areas are going to be harder to reach and it's harder to get key services and resources to them.

Do the folks in rural America know about it?

I appreciate your answers. I would also say that the numbers in rural areas are not there because it is rural.

We have to get the economy moving again and we have to make sure these folks are getting the health services and job training skills they need.

We have a lot of folks out there in rural America living in abandoned farm buildings, in the woods.

I think the key is finding them and getting them help.

It takes all of these services delivered together in an integrated way to get the veteran off the street.

How about health care costs overall in this country. Does the Senator see those health care costs, if we do nothing, declining or going up?

Absolutely. We have Medicare and the VA and TRICARE and those kinds of things. As far as government taking over the health care system, is there anything in the bill that would create anything different than we have now?

In the Senate bill we passed and that the House is about to take up, is there government health care in that bill?

Exactly. How about insurance companies. If we do nothing, is there going to be accountability for health insurance companies in this country?

I rise today with some startling news from the State of Montana. It is news that drives home the need to get a handle on America's health care problem. I was shocked when I heard about the bad news hitting teachers all across Montana. This…

Public safety is very important. As we talk about unemployment and lack of economic improvement in Indian Country, safety has to be our first priority or it is never going to happen.

I mean, it would be good. I can tell you that when I was in the State legislature, we dealt with a lot of law enforcement issues in the local ground.

I would like to know how many police that has resulted in over the last few years.

So I am hearing those guys' needs aren't met.

So how can you in your testimony, you can say that, I guess, you are able to meet the needs, but you are not meeting the needs.

I appreciate your openness about getting the information to us so that we know as appropriators that the money is being spent wisely and efficiently.