Deb Haaland

It is just concerning to me that the Navy could craft their end-product proposal, having it essentially ready to come up here, and then call a few conversations with Tribal leaders 'consultation.' That is not consultation. It is not just a…

Their ancestors are buried there. And I hope you understand that as well, that when you have people buried, it becomes hallowed ground.

Consultation and community engagement has to come first, especially when sacred lands are involved.

It is almost like Tribes are an afterthought, when they should be a forethought.

And the idea that this land that is hallowed ground could be used for this type of training, it is really sacrilegious, in a way, to the people whose lives you will affect.

You understand that we are on Indian land right now, and every single inch of this country was Indian land long before it was ever the United States of America.

These are sacred homelands and resources for Native Americans, who have been on this land long before this was ever a country.

Fox Peak is a highly sacred site to the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, and the BLM has identified this area as a special Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

I feel that we need to actually hear from the Tribes here, or have their report in the record.

Hateful ideologies of any kind have no place in our military.

If we allow these noxious beliefs to continue, as our diversity continues across the country, this is what we are dealing with.

Well, it just seems to me in terms of the survey, I think that, you know, if we do not have many minority veterans filling out the survey.

I think that as we look into sources of missing data, we might be able to pick that back up.

I just think that there is more information that needs to be included.

I think that would be a good question to ask.

I am especially grateful that you worked to significantly increase funding for implementation of the Violence Against Women's Act in Indian Country because more than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska native women have experienced violence…

I urge you to fully fund the LCWF at the authorized $900 million level, although last week the President did tweet his support for making LWCF full funding mandatory, so perhaps it won't be necessary, but we will see.

I am also grateful to you for including a year-long moratorium on new oil and gas leasing within 10 miles of the Chaco Culture National Historic Park in Fiscal Year 2020, which is my ancestral homeland, and for funding a cultural resources…

We are taught that we are connected to Mother Earth, and that, you know, being salmon people, we are taught that when our salmon go away, then we cease to exist.

We need our Federal partners' help in protecting the habitat and continuing to raise fish in our hatcheries.

The tribe is carrying the water for our Federal relatives, and carrying the trust responsibility to not just our Puyallup tribal community.

While many families have expressed appreciation for the Airmen and Family Readiness Center, they have also shared their frustrations with other aspects of the program.

Thank you, Chairwoman, and thank you to the panelists and the families for being here today and for sharing your concerns and ideas on how we can improve the care for EFMP families.

Thank you all, again, so much for being here.

We must push back on the abdication of Fair Housing process and stand up for families' rights to have a voice in their housing community.