I want to turn to the Western Oregon operating plan (WOOP), as it is referred to, and this is a plan that coordinates the approach to wildfire response.

I do not want to see us moving backwards.

I advocated for and we included in last year's funding bill $7 million for startup funding for the Department to begin consultations with tribes.

Thank you very much.

it addresses the housing issue, so we have money set aside there, about $45 million.

the proposed fiscal year 2024 President's Budget addresses a lot of the concerns and challenges we have with the recruitment and retention.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Act provided for investment in high-risk firesheds.

I want to emphasize that word, 'required'.

I feel strongly that if we want to build a safer, more competitive country, we can't give up on the need to invest right here at home.

boosting the boots on the ground, if you will, across Indian country seems to be a central tenet of this request.

boosting the boots on the ground, if you will, across Indian country seems to be a central tenet of this request.

We have a lot of Tribes in both of our states, and a lot of work to be done on many fronts.

Well, I can see the argument both ways, and we will continue in that discussion.

the primary reason that I have been hearing, personally from firefighters, is the pay gap.

It is imperative to look at a wide range of topics, because those topics are so interwoven.

It is difficult to understand how fuels projects would be completed if firefighters are routinely called up for wildfire duty.

Forest Service salaries--I should say, Federal salaries, in many of the locations across the country is not holding up to salaries in other non-Federal jobs.

it is time to say that DFC has to rethink this strategy doing far more harm than good.

Your position as the first Native American Cabinet Secretary is historic.

Always better if a problem never occurs, a crime is never committed.

I want to turn to tribal co-management. The Klamath Tribe in the southern part of Oregon, their reservation was taken back by the Government when the tribe was terminated.

Thank you. I am going to be pretty strict about us sticking to our time limits.

It is an incredible national parks system, but it only works if we have people staffing it.

We must recognize as a Congress that non-defense funding is just as important as defense spending.

I think it is actually something that you would have the power to do without legislation.