Tom Udall

We owe it to the Navajo and others harmed to make things right.

I know you dismiss the problem of climate change, but these programs are about the air we breathe and having clean air.

I want to emphasize that this is simply a proposal. Congress has not yet acted on it.

I will certainly push my colleagues to do so again this year.

I will know and we really appreciate you coming to New Mexico and we hope you will meet just like you talked about, with a wide range of stakeholders in terms of hearing what is actually happening on the ground.

I'm going to do everything I can to make sure they have the budgets to do their job.

I was originally heartened by your commitment to toxics reform, but last week EPA announced new policies that would weaken the risk evaluations at the heart of the program.

I think if you go to Tribes and ask them to grade the Federal Government on consultation I think they would uniformly come out with an F on things.

It looks to me like this budget proposes to create a foregone conclusion that State-delegated environmental programs die on the vine.

This budget is dead on arrival.

It's clear that this administration is in a relentless pursuit to undercut and disregard science to the benefit of industry.

Ultimately, our path to reorganization is going to honor sovereignty--it should mean something--self-determination, and respect.

I simply do not understand why it is a bridge too far to ask the oil and gas industry to implement common sense measures.

I know as a Congressman you did that with the Tribes in Montana and so I take you at your word that they are going to be meaningfully involved in this.

I would like to talk about your proposals to reorganize the Department and reduce your workforce.

Can you please confirm that you intend to continue the longstanding practice of responding to written questions and correspondence from both majority and minority Members of this subcommittee as quickly as possible?

I am also very concerned about the hostile position that this administration has adopted towards national monuments.

This budget claims to take care of the agency's core functions by focusing on existing Federal lands rather than grants or new land acquisitions.

This budget reduces funding for purchased and referred care by over $14 million.

I believe is one of them. I have been to the refuge. I have floated down the Hula Hula River. I have seen all the wildlife that is there, so I disagree with your budget proposal to drill there.

I do not want New Mexico to lose her.

I am very concerned by your decision, Mr. Secretary, to spend only one hour with Tribal members while other stakeholders received substantially more of your time.

These projects have brought together public and private land managers, conservationists and Pueblos in a way that benefits both forest ecosystems and local economies.

The Forest Legacy Program, part of the LWCF, has also been incredibly successful in the 25 years it has existed, thanks largely to the work of our Vice Chairman, Senator Leahy.

I need to thank you for your leadership, the meetings that I have attended that you have asked me to come out to your State, through your leadership, it has made a significant difference.