Tom Udall

This move was unprecedented and ill-advised, in my opinion.

I am encouraged that the President chose you, Ms. Sweeney, a Native American nominee with business experience and deep connection to your tribal community.

I am committed to upholding the trust responsibility to Indian Country, to ensuring the Federal Government is, in fact, fulfilling that responsibility and advocating for that in the Administration.

I strongly believe that in word and deed, anyone confirmed to the position of Assistant Secretary must be guided by these same principles.

This is an important nomination. The Department's Indian Affairs hallway has been empty for quite some time, lacking the top political leadership your nomination reflects and that Indian Country deserves.

You promised me that you would 'totally recuse yourself from any matter involving ASRC'.

Looking from the outside, it appears that Indian Affairs within Interior is in complete disarray.

A successful Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs must be an informed and effective advocate for Indian Country priorities.

I do not believe there is any clear authorization from Congress to conduct these strikes.

The last administration, when it was going to bomb in Syria, asked for Congress's permission to do so, and they didn't get it.

If he's going to go forward with a markup of the proposal that's out there, before we do that, that we actually have a hearing

I hope that your team has compared the new Senate language...with the existing authorities.

I think it's pretty clear--and I won't get you into the hypothetical, but, unless there's an imminent threat, I don't think the President can order that.

I agree with Senator Durbin's earlier comments on Iran and withdrawing from the Iran agreement. This is a big mistake.

We hear all of these rumors that the folks that are over there... are trying to privatize veterans' care.

The problem is national, and it's growing, particularly in the last month since Secretary Shulkin was fired.

This issue needs to be addressed more forcefully.

I really hope that we can get somebody over there that's going to provide the top leadership and give support.

We ask you to again reject the drastic cuts proposed in the President's fiscal year 2019 budget.

In my opinion, the Air Force should move quickly to make the F-16 basing permanent at Holloman.

Do you agree that ensuring access to space is a national security priority and that a successful Space RCO will be a key component of this effort?

Will you make it a priority to stand up the Space RCO quickly and expedite the military construction priorities in order to meet the Secretary of the Air Force's goals for space launches?

Will the Commission schedule additional meetings beyond the immediate area around the site to take into account the views of other New Mexicans?

It strikes me as odd that the department is looking at regulations that will make the process more difficult, more time-consuming and more costly, all at Indian Country's expense.

Self-determination is vital in Indian Country.