Deb Haaland

Companies will simply be discouraged from developing the minerals on my behalf because it just doesn't make sense economically or technologically.

Do you believe that these internal policies should supersede legal and moral obligations to consult with Indian tribes?

I believe the Chaco Protection Act will help our ancient land as well as our living communities.

I am disappointed that the Department of the Interior, which is supposed to manage our mineral rights in trust to the benefit of my family and all other allottees, has stopped leasing for a full year.

This action would prevent the degradation of cultural resources, preserve the environment, and protect the health of the surrounding communities.

But experience tells us that dollars and jobs aren't reflective of the true costs of these activities, which include lasting impacts to public and individual health, as well as land, air, and water quality.

We need to act to ensure that political expediency doesn't undermine these existing protections, which are so essential to the economic and cultural vitality of the region.

I am also deeply disappointed to see that BIA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Tahsuda and BIE Director Tony Dearman are not here today to testify, despite an invitation from Chairman Grijalva and Chairman Gallego.

when these--when things like this happen, these contamination issues, it takes a tremendous toll on not just the person who is being affected by it but the entire community.

Mr. Tahsuda took full responsibility for this 'gag rule,' but did not apologize for its negative effects.

Sometimes the unemployment rate is as high as 50 or 60 percent, and it just seems that those are opportunities that we could increase in those areas.

BIE must be held accountable for their inaction in response to the concerns raised about Chemawa.

every single child in this country deserves to have a quality education.

Because really when I think about the opportunities in our Native American communities, sometimes the unemployment rate is as high as 50 or 60 percent, and it just seems that those are opportunities that we could increase in those areas.

This is a failure of the Federal Government and completely unacceptable.

The reports of abuse, fraud, and mismanagement were deeply troubling to me as a parent, as an advocate for equity in education, and as a policy maker.

I find that to be entirely unfair and unjust, but I believe that it does a great disservice to the students and staff at the school.

They are window dressing. Right? They are advisory boards who don't have any teeth at all.

I am disheartened that Mr. Tahsuda and Director Dearman, both of whom were invited to testify today, chose not to come.

It is important that we know and understand the emotion and the feeling behind it.

We are concerned that, had we not requested a meeting at Chemawa, we would not have gotten that response.

I was just thinking--I was recently--I gave the commencement speech at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.

Not only is that an unacceptable way to receive a response, but it was also unsatisfactory--it was light on details and did not address many of our questions.

We are seeking basic information about the operation of a school that deserves to be taken seriously.

I can confidently tell you that no tribal leader that I have talked to understands what the agency is doing.