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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

I think we all want everybody to fully participate and we want to get people registered and give them that opportunity.

I think the chairman is right-on in holding this hearing and proceeding on this.