Blake Moore: “I have said so many times that this has taken a tremendous amount of work and team effort and good will to get us to the…”

“I have said so many times that this has taken a tremendous amount of work and team effort and good will to get us to the place at which we are today. I want to thank all of our cosponsors. It really has been a heavy lift, and I can tell you how appreciative I am. It has been so wonderful working with Mr. Pearce. He has just been levelheaded and calm all the way. Of course, with regard to Mr. Cole, Mr. Heck, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Pearce, and Mr. Young, we have all worked so closely together for 2 years to craft this bipartisan legislation. I need to also recognize the leadership role of our ranking member, Ms. Waters. She has had a few concerns, but she has been engaging and constructive. The National Congress of American Indians, the National American Indian Housing Council, and many individual tribes from all across the country have provided comments, education, and energy every step of the way. I think that this legislation, Mr. Speaker, honors the trust relationship of the United States Government, and it respects tribal sovereignty of the nations of the First People, but I don't want to make short shrift of the concerns that have been raised. For example, I wish we could have provided more funding, given the dire need. However, this legislation is the product of a truly bipartisan process.…”