Tom Udall

I think you can see there is a real consensus on the Committee, on both Democratic--the Democratic and Republican side that we want to see those things happen.

I just hope that you make sure that that is administered in a very transparent way.

We've got to balance out the needs of the country with the needs and points of views of local and regional interests.

Thank you very much for holding this hearing. These witnesses have been very, very helpful.

I think there are many of us in the West who are intrigued with the oil shale potential.

The Antiquities Act has been used to great effect, by and large and very appropriate ways as Senator Bingaman just pointed out with the recent actions of President Bush.

I want to make sure you have the last word. But I would add to your list of important uses of the Antiquities Act two additional national parks that were designated national parks after initially being designated national monuments.

Opening Statement of: Hon. Tom Udall, a U.S. Senator from the State of New Mexico.

One of the criticisms of him was that he was too young to be President. He said well, I'm doing something about that every day.

One of them is just for a young person to be able to have somebody to talk to about their problems.

Taking institutions that are there and making those institutions reform themselves so that they deal specifically with the issue of youth suicide in Indian Country.

I think you educate all of us and allow us to focus on what the issue is and what we can do about it.

I wish Senator Reid was here for me to just thank him for what he did for my family.

I really want to thank you for all of your work on climate change. When I was in the House of Representatives, I followed what you did over here in the Senate.

High crime rates and a dilapidated system of prisons and jails need to be fixed.

Secretary Salazar, you are part of the new administration and part of a new hope for Native Americans.

This public health and environmental disaster left a trail of contamination and sickness that must be addressed.

These needs of New Mexico tribes are replicated across the nation.

We need economic development in Indian Country, and for the inclusion of Indian Country in the new Administration's economic recovery efforts.

A struggling education system with consistently low scores and crumbling schools.

Secretary Salazar, I would like to begin by congratulating you on your confirmation to serve in President Obama's cabinet.

I applaud your efforts on this front, but as you no doubt are aware, we need to do more.

The need for reauthorization and improvement of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

But we want to make sure that we have fair elections without fraud, and that is really the way to go.

I cannot think of anything more important than having the military have the right to vote when they are serving overseas.