Tom Udall

Mr. Secretary, will you submit, for the record, a schedule for Tribal consultations?

The reason we have the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the reason the commission that Senator Alexander talked about was put in place, and the high numbers that Senator Tester talked about, are to have additional parks at the local…

You intend to follow the direction provided in the omnibus and the explanatory statement, and follow congressional intent.

Soon is a couple of weeks?

What date are we releasing the budget to the field?

I want to clear all of this up.

I do not see how drawing the lines really makes a difference there.

I do not see how changing regional boundaries resolves the fact that the BLM has a different legal responsibility and legal responsibilities than the Park Service or the Bureau of Reclamation.

Senator Udall noted a concern about not engaging as much with Tribes.

I am particularly troubled by the lack of Tribal consultation so far.

I remain concerned that, today, on the 146th anniversary of the 1872 Mining Law, we are still not having the necessary conversations about reforming this antiquated law.

I do not support the administration's efforts to move full-steam ahead on the plan to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The monuments review that the Department conducted, and the decisions to eviscerate Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, are a travesty.

You have said you want to uphold our Nation's trust and treaty responsibilities and support Tribal self-determination, but Tribal programs are decimated by this budget.

Your budget request walks away from the decades-long Federal commitment to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

I remain concerned that there is still a directive in place for BLM to offer quarterly lease sales that have the potential to impact Chaco.

Public lands boost our local economies and add jobs, and special places like Las Vegas, New Mexico, benefit greatly.

The decisions made by the Department determine whether our natural and cultural resources are protected and managed responsibly.

The Department of the Interior has an essential role in upholding the federal treaty and trust obligations.

There is perhaps no more important pending nomination to ensuring the Administration is well-positioned to honor the centuries-old government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States.

I want to work with tribes, and if they are choosing to develop their resources, whether extractive or renewable, my role as Assistant Secretary, if confirmed, is to ensure tribes have the tools necessary to exercise their right to full…

Will you commit to defending the unique legal status of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes?

I believe responsible drilling and cultural preservation are not mutually exclusive.

I introduced legislation which we passed in 2016, the Native American Children's Safety Act.

I would like to know whether you will commit to clearly communicate and explain Indian Country's opposition to the Bears Ears decision at the highest levels within the department and at the White House?