Byron Dorgan

The finally enacted economic recovery package must include provisions that specifically direct funds toward tribal governments' infrastructure and capital needs

NIEA commends Chairman Dorgan in particular for his tremendous efforts to ensure that Indian Country is included in the stimulus package.

NIEA commends Chairman Dorgan for his tremendous efforts to ensure that Indian Country is included in the stimulus package.

Senator Dorgan's request of $334 million for new construction of K-12 school facilities and $150 million for maintenance and repair is similar to NIEA's request.

The notion that there is fresh, unaccounted for Indian housing funding in HUD's account is simply not true.

NIEA strongly supports Senator Dorgan's request, signed and supported by 14 other Senators, for funding for BIE school construction and maintenance.

Today the Committee is going to examine the need for infrastructure and job creation on Indian lands and in Indian Country in this Nation of ours.

It's just been an unbelievable mess in a lot of ways.

We have worked together a lot on these projects, and I'm anxious to continue to work with you.

I think this is an important time where urgent action needs to be taken on some energy issues.

I believe very strongly in energy efficiency. We need to work hard on this.

While I am happy to note that the January 9th letter proposed $4.4 million for energy development on Indian lands, I must say that this amount is woefully inadequate to meet the need for tribal energy project development.

On January 9, 2009, Committee leadership, together with 13 other U.S. Senators, issued a letter to President Obama urging the inclusion of billions of dollars in Indian tribal projects in the economic stimulus plan.

I applaud those 15 Senators, led by Chairman Dorgan and Vice Chairman Murkowski, who on January 9, 2009, issued a letter to President-elect Obama outlining the billions of dollars in 'shovel-ready' projects.

We need to be able to move forward with that process to provide some certainty to investors.

The threats posed to the U.S. economy by our dangerous dependence on oil are equally as dire as those posed to our national security.

The centerpiece of the Council's plan is the electrification of short haul ground transportation.

It is time to help facilitate the transformation to the next generation of transportation technology.

We understand that America can never succeed in the war on terror as long as we fund both sides of the conflict.

Our nation's dependence on oil...still represents a grave threat to our economic and national security.

Our Nation's dependence on oil... still represents a grave threat to our economic and national security.

The Governor and the Senator and the Congressman made the point about what has happened in Virginia that appears in the rearview mirror as almost criminal.

I have been one of the strongest supporters here in Congress saying I believe tribes should go through the process we have established for the tribes.

But this is not fair, in my judgment.

Somehow, you are going to wear out your welcome with the Congress and we are going to have people in Congress pushing, with sufficient strength, that the recognition process doesn't work.