John Hoeven

That flexibility is vitally important.

So we have to find some way to pool our resources. I am hopeful this bill will help us do that.

I very much look forward to hearing from this panel in regard to the legislation that we are proposing here.

So the idea of working together makes sense.

I am incredibly sorry for your loss. It takes incredible courage and strength to be here and talk about this.

We talked about everything from drug court to making sure there's education in schools and prevention.

I'm committed to doing all I can to work with my colleagues and Senator Heitkamp to address this very serious concern.

Native American children experience abuse and neglect at higher rates than non-native children.

The purpose of the hearing is to discuss how Federal agencies can coordinate to provide services to Native American children who suffer from trauma and mental health issues.

Currently the VA is working to implement a pilot project in our State to bring the scheduling aspect back to the VA.

I think some of those studies have shown on the order of $750 million a year in benefit to taxpayers by having ranchers out on the ground.

I think it is important that people understand it.

We appreciate your Regional Director and her willingness to work with us.

That is the key. That is where we need your help.

I am asking for more flexibility, and I am asking you to empower that Regional Director.

Can you give me an example of any of the things they have done that have been particularly successful or things we maybe should look at?

It is about making sure they take advantage of some of the great food economy and other things.

It is primarily accessing Federal programs for help?

Are there tax credits that go with it or tax benefits for companies that will locate there and hire people?

It is up to the tribe and their navigator to come up with these ideas in terms of what they want to do and what programs to access?

We are so excited about these two new designations and we will now have four examples where the Federal family really worked well together.

We are excited about that.

What is happening is you are either having to try to mine around you or you are holding up that mine, but it creates a real problem because they are still mining that area, they just have to skip the coal.

I would also recommend that you make sure--it looks to me like you expedite the timeline for input.

It seems to me this ought to be figured out sooner versus later, like having a three-year moratorium to get a resolution of the problem.