Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Some of my goals for energy and climate change legislation include: protecting South Dakotans from a rise in electricity rates.

I am opposed to the ACES bill as it currently stands. It is incomplete and imperfect.

Given such success, I hope the VA and this Committee will strongly consider ways to expand this program's reach so more communities can benefit as Rapid City has.

I am also especially pleased that H.R. 1171 includes the text of H.R. 293, the Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Act, which I introduced to reverse the increased trend in homeless women…

My caseworkers in South Dakota report that the homeless Veterans they have worked with are very distrustful of the VA and generally unwilling to go there for assistance.

I strongly believe that forests must be fully recognized in any energy and climate change legislation for the essential role they play in reducing carbon emissions and in generating renewable energy.

I was proud to work in a bipartisan manner in the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on Rep. John Boozman's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.

I agree with President Obama, who said in March that until we reach a day when not a single veteran sleeps on the street, our business on this issue is unfinished.

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program should be the 'crown jewel' of VA benefits.

I would like to thank all of our men and women in uniform who are currently serving in our Armed Forces, the veterans who have answered our Nation's call to duty, and particularly thank the families who have lost a loved one while in…

I can assure you that we will continue to work together in bipartisan manner to review current programs, to determine if they meet the needs of veterans and their dependents, while we continue to look for new opportunities to strengthen…

As our Nation's veteran owned small businesses encounter a challenging environment, it is important that we continue to provide oversight on small business opportunities for veterans and service disabled veterans, and review laws that are…

I applaud these efforts and the work of the thousands of Federal employees tasked to assist our Nation's veterans.

The men and women who serve our Nation honorably deserve and should receive the best our country can offer.

What we do in the Independent Living Program, although it is a small program currently, is so vitally important.

The federal government is responsible for working with tribes to ensure safe communities but, unfortunately over the years it has not met the great needs of Native communities.

The bill will take important steps to expand and improve Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Services for women veterans.

The intention of both H.R. 784 and H.R. 785 is to ensure that we have adequate services to address the mental health needs of our veterans.

I believe my bill will help the VA better meet the specialized needs and develop new systems to better provide for the health care of women veterans.

I believe my legislation will actually augment the VA's continuum of care and bring in veterans who may be hesitant or apprehensive about seeking care from the VA.

It is time, it is well past time for Congress to take action.

Adequate funding for tribal law enforcement, detention, tribal courts and rehabilitation and treatment services simply must be a higher priority.

I don't believe the VA facilities have ever provided for newborn care.

Today fewer than 3,000 law enforcement officers patrol more than 56 million acres of Indian Country.