Tom Udall

Since President Trump announced the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA, there has been a lot of talk about the possibility of the U.S. using military force against Iran, a possibility that is concerning to me and many of my colleagues.

Congress has failed to exert its legitimate constitutional authority, even in the face of the most clearly unauthorized use of military force to date.

when there is cooperation on all fronts in Cuba, I think Americans do better and Cubans do better.

This is yet another example, over 50 years, failed isolationist policies towards Cuba.

Given that the President refuses to disclose his tax returns, how can you assure the American people that American foreign policy is free of his personal conflicts of interest?

I'm perplexed by the decision in this budget to cut funding from the Indian Health Professions Program by 12 percent.

I'm very pleased that this subcommittee was able to provide the largest ever appropriation for facilities construction and maintenance programs in fiscal year 2018.

As one pueblo leader recently reminded me, community health representatives come from the communities they serve, which means that they have the necessary cultural understanding to identify and respond to their members.

I need, and the Tribes are rightfully demanding, more assurances that the administration understands the Federal Government's unique trust relationship with American Indians and Alaska Natives.

I think it's important for you and your team to educate them on how the Indian Health Service has really been lifted up by the Affordable Care Act.

Should CMS identify additional deficiencies, how will you pay for the needed improvements?

I know that this funding is very important for Alaska Native villages in the Chairwoman's State.

And let me just emphasize what was said earlier. You know, last year we all requested this information when it came to these Medicaid cuts and the impact repealing the Affordable Care Act would have.

we just need to make sure they don't try to head down that road.

I can't emphasize enough how important it is to address any remaining issues at the Gallup Indian Medical Center and address them promptly and completely.

I was pleased that we were able to fund $50 million for Tribal opioid grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration budget in last year's omnibus.

Medicaid is not a substitute for full funding for IHS, but until we can address funding shortfalls in the Service, Medicaid is one of the most important stopgaps we have.

some administrations have stepped forward with 5-year plans to wipe out backlogs

I think it's really important that you make clear the resources you need to do this because it's obviously very important in going through the stage we're going through.

I think the reality is that this quality of care--and I wouldn't call it quality, I would say it's a shameful quality of care--has gone on for far too long.

Did you believe--do you believe that the Federal programs or policies undertaken for the benefit of Tribes are race-based?

We need you to come back and talk to us and give us the specifics here.

And I would just emphasize again, I mean, I've heard from many of my Tribes, and I would just add--like to add several letters from my pueblos to the record, Madam Chair.

Now, this subcommittee nearly doubled funding for sanitation facilities construction in the recent omnibus.

I'd like your commitment that you will provide the report that this subcommittee requested on time...