Jon Tester

I think it is critically important that the person in this position get out to see as many areas of Indian Country as possible.

I would tend to agree with that.

So what is the inhibitor of Colstrip, Montana, with their four coal-fired generators, starting up a cement plant in Colstrip, Montana? What is stopping that?

I think that it needs to be a multifaceted arrangement that we deal with CO2.

Well, we are going as fast as we can.

We need to figure out ways to deal with the CO2 issue.

There are not a lot of known options out there, and we need to make them known.

Has anybody done any analysis about the amount of wastewater? If we were to maximize this to all its ability, do we have plenty of wastewater to fill the need in the country?

I think that how we deal with our carbon is just how we deal with our energy policy.

Only in America could you make cookies out of coal.

I fully agree with the fact that we are going to be burning coal for a long, long time.

I just need to make sure that we don't have unintended disincentives in some policy we make.

I appreciate that. School nurses, are they still a part of the equation, or did they go by the wayside?

Are there agreements to be able to transfer medical personnel between hospitals or States to make sure we have the medical personnel that can meet the need?

I think we all realize how important those ports are. We all understand how important trade is.

What are you recommending critical access hospitals that have nursing homes attached to them do to help stop the spread of a potential contaminant?

I think education is underfunded, and one of many places where education is underfunded in school nurses.

I appreciate that. I guess the whole concern of outsourcing everything and now we are here outsourcing this, and I know you have the same concerns.

I tend to agree with the good doctor. I think that we need to let science lead the way here and make reasonable decisions.

I think that we do have a serious problem that we face, and I think it is partially because of your good work and your leadership that this will be minimized as much as possible.

In many of the rural States around this country, we have critical access hospitals that have fewer than 25 beds.

Thank you very much for your testimony and your concise answers.

Is that the $71.6 million?

If you would be so kind? Thank you very much. I owe you--hopefully not too much.

If you look at your budget, Nancy, it shows an increase of about $2 million, if I am correct.