I am grateful that this Committee and Congress have identified these shortcomings as a top priority to be addressed by this administration.

The importance of having the full slate of leadership positions confirmed at USDA is essential to addressing the pressing issues facing the diverse populations that rely on USDA service.

Will you work with me to address USDA's past discriminatory practices and history of ineffective outreach to historically underserved populations?

I just want to express my gratitude to the Secretary for that.

Thank you, Chair Schatz, and Vice Chair Murkowski, for holding this hearing on the Response of Native Health Systems to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Native Americans have faced significant challenges during this pandemic.

I think those are some great suggestions that I hope we can all think about as we look at how to make sure that we have enough flexibility.

I was glad to see President Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 budget include an advance appropriation for IHS in 2023.

I am grateful for the chance to work with Senator Murkowski and many others on this Committee to introduce the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act.

I am proud to note that the Navajo Area and Albuquerque Area IHS regions have distributed over 315,000 vaccines as of last week.

We are going to be reintroducing that bill soon. It did not pass last year.

I applaud and appreciate the work you are doing to ensure that there is more acceptance and support on college campuses as well.