Tom Udall

This is very important to New Mexico. We are home to seven national forests and one national grassland.

The changing climate is making this type of fire more likely.

We have two communities in southern New Mexico that are designated colonias, called Chaparral and Sunland Park.

I think you have done an excellent job as Ag Secretary.

Sequester hurts these rural communities, and we need to get back to adequate funding for these important programs.

We currently have many low-income communities near the United States-Mexico border, known as colonias, that have an urgent need for water infrastructure.

Would you work with me to ensure these two communities do not fall through the cracks by granting a waiver making them eligible for rural development assistance?

It's critically important that we have strong support for water and wastewater disposal grant programs.

I think you have done an excellent job as Ag Secretary.

I want FirstNet to succeed ensuring our Nation's first responders have the communication tools they need; should be a top priority of this Committee.

The tribes really look to the Federal Government to look at and see that they're going to be communicated with and consulted with on these kinds of issues.

One concern I have is that Congress sometimes makes good policies but then fails to follow through by adequately funding their implementation.

What plans does the Army have for maintaining and updating the facilities at White Sands Missile Range?

Your budget includes $35 million in new funds to address sanitation needs in Indian country, which is a 44 percent increase in the program.

I believe that the Chairman said earlier $2 billion, $100 million of funds that the IHS needs to fully fund its current construction priority list.

Are you confident that the budget request you have proposed for fiscal year 2016 will fully cover your estimated contract support cost needs?

I am really proud to have co-sponsored legislation with you on the Scholarships and Loan Repayment Programs funded through IHS.

I am concerned about turnover and low morale at the Indian Health Service--and the agency's reported vacancy rate of 23 percent for doctors particularly troubles me.

We are simply not making enough progress in replacing these facilities.

Now, if you are proposing your own rule, could you address the need to have Congress--why you are requesting Congress to act on this issue?

Patients depend on the PRC program to cover the cost of services not provided directly by the Indian Health Service, including emergency and specialty care.

I do not think these are the average patients. I think they have a higher disease burden.

Your proposed increase is only a down payment toward the actual need for the PRC program.

I look forward to discussing your proposal to authorize mandatory funding for the program starting in 2017.

We need to close this gap, and we need to close it now.