Heidi Heitkamp

An accurate student count is critical for JOM program administration, budget justification, and the delivery of student services.

I want to make a point about Senator Franken's comments. We began this process in our caucus because our frustration is, we hear the concerns and we hear the problems.

Because state agencies and policies continue to leave American Indians and Alaska Natives out of data collection efforts, data reporting, and analysis, Indian Country has become what the National Congress of American Indians calls the…

Thank you Chairman Hoeven for holding this hearing on my bill and others today.

It is really hard to get a level of accountability on this side because to us it seems to be unfair to put this back on you.

I am concerned about the rental market, which, Mr. DeMarco, in your testimony you made a critical point that one of our greatest challenges is actually in the rental market.

I would urge you to do everything. Go to the limit in what you can do in providing relief to these ranchers and access to CRP.

I do not know how things can get worse for our ranchers out there. If they are making it, they are making it day to day right now, and they do not know how they are going to carry this over into the winter.

We have been begging you guys for a decision to allow haying, because people have to make decisions right now about what they are going to do with their herd.

We need to quit talking about it, and we need to develop strategies that actually achieve the result.

I want you to come up with solutions to this and cut our small community banks some slack.

I think it is critical that we be aware of what those indicators are and that we work together with the private lending industry.

I think the time for talking is over and the time for doing is now.

When you look, many current and former regulators also publicly state that the Volcker rule is way too complicated.

Do not do things that do not make sense, and if it did not make sense, we are not going to ding you if something happens.

If we do not have a system that is adaptable, if we do not have communication and adaptability, then all of this means nothing.

Hearings like this one demonstrate this Committee's commitment to improving the lives of those who served our country.

The Empowering Federal Employment for Veterans Act would connect veterans with Federal jobs that match their skills, as well as promote career development.

As long as Senator Lankford and I are Chairman and Ranking Member of this Committee, we are going to do oversight.

We are going to come back to you and say, 'Where are we at with this process?'

The closer a reform or a supervisor is to the employee, where they can see a direct response and, 'Wow, that worked, they actually listened, we changed, this got better,' that is gold in personnel management.

It just is going to delay and frustrate farmers who want to tile, who want to do the kind of work that they need to get permission from NRCS for.

I fail to see how we are going to get to 21 percent and still do what I know needs to be done.

I stand ready and willing to question any cuts that come at the expense of talent, morale, and the mission of our Federal workforce.

I worry about my farmers and ranchers and how they are going to get the critical support and critical information they need from our Farm Service Agency (FSA) field offices.