Kristi Noem actually said...

"Would you agree that reducing the impact to producers should be a priority?"

"Yes, we absolutely have an emergency situation in the Black Hills, so communities that live amongst these dead and dying trees are a lightning strike away from wiping out an entire town or population."

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it."

"My concern was that I read this, and I assumed that some of the perpetuators potentially were in these positions too long."