Jon Tester

I just want to say it has been a pleasure, this last Congress, working with all the other three corners.

We have to find a solution to this. We have to.

This is a crisis. It is a problem.

I will just tell you that. I think we should, once again, bring in the respective law agencies...

We have issues in Indian Country. We have issues of poverty, we have issues of drugs.

In July, middle of July there were 30 missing and murdered, missing women. One of them had been found.

So what you're saying is when a missing and murdered indigenous woman is reported, you have tribal police, BIA and FBI that are working to find that person?

Would we have a different reaction if this was non-Native? I am just telling you, it would be a different reaction.

Are we really putting the kind of resources we need, is the BIA putting the kind of resources, does the FBI have the kind of resources?

I know, but at what point in time is it turned over to the FBI?

But there has to be a reason for this. It isn't a data base.

Thank you, Ranking Member Udall. I want to thank the panel for being here today. I know fully well that the people sitting at this panel right now are critically important if we are going to get this solved.

Too much violence has gone unreported, and when that violence has been reported, it has gone unchallenged.

You cannot step foot in Indian Country without hearing a heartbreaking story about this growing problem.

So where is the problem, so we know where to focus our efforts?

We are here today because we have an epidemic on our hands.

Something is not happening here, though.

So that is true with Indian Country, the law enforcement doesn't happen?

Let me back up a little bit. Let's take the issue of Ashley Loring-Heavy Runner.

Do you guys believe that there is a problem with missing and murdered indigenous women? A simple yes or no answer will work.

Every missing person is important.

At a time when both parties tend to run to their corners, I want to thank you for your opening statement.

Rural communities are facing significant challenges in accessing broadband services.

I believe those efforts are misguided and, quite frankly, counterproductive to the good work that this Committee has done.

I think S. 2155 has taken a big step forward in terms of transparency for international regulations, insurance regulations.