John Thune

We need a willing partner at IHS who takes these issues as seriously as I do. As far as I'm concerned, this conversation is far from over.

Senator Thune will take actions to obtain appropriate funding to implement the findings.

This bill, the Indian Health Service Accountability Act, is the critical first step on the road to reform because it targets the issues we believe are at the core of the dysfunction of the Indian Health Service.

We cannot accept failure or complacency, and, as a doctor, I know that quality health care is about putting the patient first.

We do not need IHS to define what that bill means to the tribes. Tribes need to define to them.

This requires systemic change. You can't fix this by changing the oil and replacing the tires. We need a whole new car.

The audit that Senator Thune has been discussing is essential to that being possible.

The legislation proposed by Chairman Barrasso and Senator John Thune, S. 2953 'The Indian Health Service Accountability Act of 2016', is attempting to address long-standing Tribal concerns about the IHS.

$80 million. $80 million, Mr. Chairman, that went for litigation that was taken from patient care in the Great Plains Area.

The IHS needs major reform.

There's got to be a way in which we can create a mechanism formalized so that consultation can take place.

More taxpayer money won't solve the dysfunction because what IHS lacks is an efficient system and accountability.

Each member of the Committee contributed to the success of the FAST Act.

This committee's work... helped to enhance safety, increase transparency, reform regulatory structures, and improve planning.

The FAST Act provides the certainty and reforms necessary to improve our Nation's infrastructure and spur economic growth.

Thank you for the recent hearing on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (the 'TCPA') and its impact on consumers and businesses.

When we are getting to the left of Europe on some of these issues, we are probably out of the mainstream when it comes to this country.

I said I would review any IANA transition plan to make sure it both meets the requirements laid out by NTIA.

Last year, I also introduced the DOTCOM Act along with Senators Schatz, Wicker, and Rubio.

You indicate in your testimony that 14 percent of your portfolio consists of loans ranging from $1,000 to $249,000...

Okay. Mr. Barker, would you say your bank is consistently more competitive with loan rates and loan availability to, particularly as we talked about earlier, some of the younger, smaller, newer borrowers?

From your perspective, to what extent do private banks, commercial banks, Farm Credit System, and FSA play a role in ensuring that credit exists for borrowers out there?

I think it just puts a fine point on how important it is that we are really focused on agriculture.

Do any of you have examples of how the Farm Credit System neglects young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers in your area?

We really will need guarantees going forward to keep producers in business.