Jon Tester

Can you give me, has it been half and half, 30-70, 20-80?

It would be very difficult for a Seminole to determine whether the Little Shell existed since 1900.

I will certainly give you my opinion, but that is all it is worth, is an opinion.

So somehow, this Committee needs your assistance to try to evaluate what kind of process could exist with respect to Federal recognition.

That would be the latest one.

I think the decision that came out of Interior last week was wrong.

25 or 30 or 35 years is too long.

I believe that given the decline that we have been through, I think the likelihood that the credit is inflating the market beyond what it would otherwise be is very, very low.

Do you find that somewhat ironic, troublesome?

What I hope is that this Committee and the Congress as a whole will pass a strong set of reforms, no matter what other people out there are saying.

We need to get past the gridlock that has plagued forest management for so many years.

We need to have jobs in the woods, restore our best fisheries and wildlife habitat, address fire risk, protect our best backcountry as wilderness for fishing, hunting, and clean water.

Typically how many docs look at a vet when they do their exam?

Typically how long does it take for a physician to go through that program?

They are consistently highly satisfied with the work that the contractors are doing. How about the VA? Are they consistently highly satisfied with the work the VA is doing?

We have learned from previous hearings that the disability exam can be quite complicated, especially when exams involve multiple body systems and a complex rating system.

Do you compare the outcomes of the disability ratings between the contractors and the VA?

It would seem to me that the appeals rate would be something that you would use as a method by which to determine adequacy.

Does the VA train the contractor physicians in the same way they train the VA physicians?

Why not? It just seems to me--and just tell me Mr. Williams or Mr. Mayes, if you can tell me what you do now.

I believe that Senator Tester stated that in one large geographic region there was one provider in his area.

Do you have any idea how long those exams take?

You have 29 specialty exams. Does each veteran have 29 docs take a look at him?

I just want to make sure the vet is treated fairly.

So, what I am hearing you say--and you may correct me--the critical component of this is not necessarily the physician's level of expertise on how to conduct the exam, but rather the template?