Ron Wyden

I think we all understand that nobody at the VA gets up in the morning and says, I want to spend my day being rotten to veterans.

Thank you both for being here.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for accommodating our schedule.

I highly commend Senator Bingaman and his colleague Senator Udall for their good work, diligence and dedication in developing this far-reaching, well-thought-out proposal to protect forever some of the most scenic and environmentally…

I do hope that we can move ahead quickly with this bill, regardless of what else may be proposed concerning land use allocations in the Tongass.

Senator Bingaman listened to his constituents--those who love and cherish these lands--and developed, through a collaborative process, a solid piece of conservation legislation.

I can assure you that the vast, vast majority of the citizens of Dona Ana County and the State of New Mexico support Senator Bingaman and Udall's efforts.

That's some good news for Oregonians. These are special treasures that we feel strongly about.

I believe that the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009, which I co-sponsored, will play an important role in assisting tribes in combating the problem of gangs.

Their absence combined with their recent admission that no verifiable data on the rate of violent crimes on Indian reservations exists further solidifies my belief that the Tribal Law and Order Act of the 2009 needs to be passed into law…

Do walk across the street. Do it in a hurry, because we have been waiting and waiting.

So we want to get this worked out.

We just want you to be a guardian of Oregon's fragile beauty.

Now, if you're going to say you want to maintain the visitor experience, you'll tell me this morning something that addresses your at least orientation to the idea of helicopter overflights.

I just want you to know that Oregonians are not going to allow our State's identity to be so thoroughly diminished for so little potential gain.

Oregonians are just up in arms about the prospect now of an application from a Bend company to fly helicopter tours over Crater Lake National Park.

It is a great pleasure to appear before you today to introduce the President's nominee for Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Joan Evans.

Veterans are always going to be at the table because of the leadership that you provide and that of your colleagues.

So often, we forget about the families, and we don't really remember what the families are wrestling with.

Following up on the Administration's request to try to find a cooperative management approach, can you point to any successful examples where the Forest Service and Park Service have successfully co-managed a Park unit and its surrounding…

So you want another 6 months on top of the fact that I introduced the legislation a year ago.

So you say today you support the intent of the legislation, but you do not support the legislation.

But to get problems solved, you have got to have people step up, and unfortunately, that has not taken place.

The reason it is not getting done is because there is no leadership.

Do you want to make them wait another century?