Heidi Heitkamp

We have our own problem in this country.

Maybe someday, we will get it done.

At what point do we walk upstream and really change outcomes?

If we keep doing what we have always done and maybe tweak it around the edges, we are going to always get this result.

This is so incredibly frustrating, as I sit here and listen.

We have obviously a State-owned bank in North Dakota. We are quite proud of the Bank of North Dakota.

North Dakota is blessed because we have something called the State-Owned Bank and a huge commitment to veterans.

Well, it would be absolutely critical, I think.

We want you to be a strong advocate for these kids.

You tell kids they are valued every day, but they go to a school that is in poor condition, they don't feel valued.

There is an incredible urgency to this.

Education has always been the great equalizer in our Country.

We are failing as educators, and we are failing as leaders.

Education is the key to opportunity and success for our Native American communities.

I think the Federal Government has been incredibly slow, and the consequences of that has been really threefold.

I think Senator Tester would join me as we look at building out Federal law enforcement to meet the needs.

I want to retain the worker that I have who has already done that work.

I feel like we may be creating, if we do not watch it, a system that we hope will reward people for doing things regionally.

I share Mr. Tilsen's concern about housing all across Indian country.

We have an underutilized resource in America. It is called 'rural America.'

I have seen that culture change in North Dakota.

It is not easy work, regional economic development. It means collaboration.

I appreciate the opportunity to testify today before members of the Subcommittee.

Through this new approach, the Committee hopes rural communities target investment to boost economic development by harnessing their strengths.

We certainly understood that the role of those small towns is to support the dominant industry, which is agriculture.