Heidi Heitkamp

You know, you guys talk a big story. But those of us who, as Senator Daines just explained, or Olivia Lone Bear, it just doesn't match with what happens on the ground.

That is why we are here again today.

Unfortunate. And it makes us all question the real commitment to this issue, and that is tragic.

I would also like to thank Senator Heidi Heitkamp for her leadership on S. 1942, Savanna's Act.

I can only imagine the terror and the heartbreak of your family.

Well, I am just telling you, that if I ran your agency and if I ran the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, I would figure out a way to do it better, especially when we are dealing with you.

The intent of that legislation is to begin the dialogue.

This is not to discover if we have a problem, but to discover the extent of the problem.

I appreciate the effort of Senator Heitkamp in looking at how, and asking the tough questions, and making sure that our Federal partners are accountable.

Why is there this heavy rate of declined cases in Indian Country?

You aren't part of that protocol of trying to find missing people. That is just not what we can expect from the FBI.

We need advocacy within the Department of the Interior, within OMB. We need advocacy to actually correct these problems.

We can't keep doing what we are doing and getting a better result. It is just not going to work.

If we cannot protect people, we are not doing our job.

I find some regret that you have to come here, given the fact that you are all sovereign and that you have the ability to run your own business.

The time has long passed since we have taken up this issue.

The primary responsibility of any sovereign is to provide for the safety of its people.

This bill would right that wrong.

We need to work together to address the challenges facing our tribes.

I just want to see it. I want to see what that plan is.

We would really appreciate it if you would take a very hard, close look at the Northern Triangle countries.

We all agree that the worst thing for these families is to migrate north. It is a dangerous journey.

I am deeply concerned about the lack of adequate policing in Indian reservations in my State.

I believed a yes vote would have compromised my true belief that this person did not have the temperament to be on the Supreme Court.

I promised people in North Dakota that I wouldn't make a decision based on what team anyone is on.