Tom Udall

Thank you for calling GAO, the BIE and the IHS back here so the agencies can update the Committee on their progress.

This hearing starts where we left off after our first hearing on the GAO High Risk Report in May.

Thank you, Chairman Hoeven.

We must prioritize the health and education of our Native youth.

When I visited President Santos earlier this year, he stressed the importance of roads as a key factor to bring government services to rural areas.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to note that Senator Hassan and I have requested a hearing in this Committee on the current state of the U.S. media landscape.

Do you believe it is appropriate for any Federal official with power over media organizations to attack or threaten them with legal or regulatory retaliation over negative news coverage, media coverage?

President Trump has continued his unprecedented and dangerous attacks on media organizations that report stories he does not like.

Will you reassure us that you will exercise your authority as Chairman of the FCC to regulate the media in an impartial manner?

Do you believe that career Foreign Service and civil service officers serve an important role in our Nation's diplomacy?

I really believe that taxpayers are entitled to know how their money is being spent.

On March 8, I wrote to Secretary Tillerson, along with Senators Whitehouse and Blumenthal, asking what, if any, taxpayer resources are being spent to secure Trump organization commercial real estate around the globe.

I am hoping you can help us answer these questions.

Just this past week, we learned that the State Department spent approximately $15,000 at a Trump Hotel in Vancouver when the President's daughter stayed there.

The two remaining bills that are the subject of this hearing, S. 1223 and S. 1285, are non-controversial.

S. 943 was introduced by my colleague, Senator Heitkamp, alongside Senators Lankford and Daines, that would help ensure that the Johnson-O'Malley Program, which is so critical, would serve all Native children.

It plays a critical role in supporting educational needs of Indian students by making sure Native students have school supplies, culturally-based extracurricular opportunities, academic tutoring and other critical tools to ensure a…

We owe Indian Country nothing less and we owe our Native youth nothing less.

I am disappointed that this budget does not invest more in loan repayment and scholarship programs.

I continue to have concern about the Service's ability to effectively recruit and retain qualified staff.

Yes, and I am sure that if the $99 million in cuts were restored to you, you could make progress on additional items also.

I was pleased that this request includes $5 million to support the design for a new facility in Alamo, New Mexico.

So they do have a full leadership team?

I was pleased this subcommittee was able to secure additional funding for alcohol and substance abuse programs in the Omnibus.

This budget proposal would cut more than $12 million from these line items, that is, mental health and substance abuse.