Jon Tester

Unfortunately, what I do not see in the budget is the accountability to manage the money.

Secretary Vilsack has a new vision for the USFS. In Montana just a few days ago, the Secretary talked about how a bill that I happen to have, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, provides the tools the USFS needs to achieve that goal.

Anecdotal and collected data show that up-front collaboration is breaking the gridlock in our forests and help to get work accomplished on the ground.

Is release based off of endangered species or is it--is it based off of shipping needs downstream?

These are important projects, and they need to be finished. In order to be finished, we need to have the resources.

The money that's been appropriated hasn't even kept up with inflation.

What are we going to do about it?

I can't sit here and tell you I have a game plan that's going to solve that issue right now, in the coming years.

I rise to share some news from my hometown of Big Sandy, MT. It is a town of just over 700 folks. That means in Montana, it is a Class C town. In Montana, Class C basketball isn't just a tradition, it is a way of life. For a lot of…

Which is--I believe it is recreation and----

And it's not only time; it's liability, too, because during that 2-year period, the liability shifts to local cities, towns, counties.

the fact is, if we don't get the levee certified, if they don't have the means to do it, and the flood insurance goes up, houses don't get sold--it further depresses an already depressed economy. How are we going to fix it?

I rise today to urge the immediate confirmation of Michael Punke to be the U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. The United States has been without an ambassador for more than 6 months because one Republican Senator has been…

Is it your opinion that work will be able to be used in the recertification project to help drive costs down?

The solution is a targeted program championed by Senator Tester.

I don't think it's going to come out of the mountains of Montana.

We will appreciate it.

If it comes in from the Federal Government, it has to be used for mine cleanup.

I appreciate your perspective on that.

There has been concern in Montana about a leaked memo by one of those 70,000 people on national monuments.

I do not want to see that opportunity go by the wayside.

I think there is a tremendous amount of opportunity, and I think your Department and your leadership by Secretary Salazar has been critically important.

What are we going to do about it? Do you guys have a--do you have a plan for that to get them addressed?

I feel the immediacy. I think you feel the immediacy. I just want to make sure we are getting results.

I was one of those four Democratic Senators that had that press conference yesterday on generation of equipment that was built outside this country.