Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And yet here we are continuing to promote one project after another.

Would that proposal significantly cut the removal of lead pipes, resulting in more damage to more children?

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.

One of the goals was to develop a program that would provide labeling so you have pollinator safe according to certain standards.

It seems like that is at odds with bipartisan support for water infrastructure.

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

I am very pleased to see the proposal for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

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

Will you commit to making sure that Oregon and other states that don't have their own Green Banks can still have access to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund?

Thank you, Chair Merkley, Ranking Member Murkowski and all members of the subcommittee for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of full funding of $425 million in FY 2024 for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

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

There are two routes to doing this. One is kind of a voluntary effort through the Xerces Society, but the other is for us to have a regulation that says you can label these plants pollinators safe if they have been raised in this manner.

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

Funding for the Forest Service is a perfect example of why we need to invest in non-defense spending, to defend our communities from wildfire, improve public health, protect jobs, and increase the health and resiliency of our forests.

I introduced bill, the Children's Safe Welcome Act, which we have shared with your team, which was designed to kind of lay out the gold standard.

One of the things that both Russia and China have been engaged in is transnational repression and last week, I introduced a bill with Senators Rubio, Cardin, and Hagerty, a comprehensive bill.

I think this is particularly challenging in Tribal settings where people may be more remote, have fewer folks nearby to assist.

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

In Vietnam we really wanted to reinforce support for the Leahy programs to heal the wounds of war.

Do you like that term, tribal sovereignty fees?

I hope the results of those meetings will be that these Tribes that haven't been able to participate in the program, will be able to get their feet on the ground, and get started.

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

Yeah, absolutely. We are determined to try to prevent that fire borrowing, which is why we are keeping the window open for a supplemental of another $450 million.

Thank you, Senator. You timed it just perfectly.