"I don't understand why we as a Federal Government think that we are so high and mighty that we can tell an Indian Nation, period, what they can do or what they cannot do."
"This is like serving on a board of the Southern Baptist Convention, I am telling you; it is all about more meetings."
"This proposition is not merely an administrative change or a conveyance of responsibilities, but a critical step toward improving water use for communities in need and responsible resource management."
"My bill, the Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act, as described in my opening statement, requires the Bureau of Reclamation to enter into good faith negotiations with the Midvale Irrigation District..."
"Tribes and individual Indians control roughly 56 million acres of land, much of which holds untapped energy and mineral potential."
"The Pilot Butte Power Plant Conveyance Act will certainly bring about positive change and prosperity for both the local community and the state of Wyoming as a whole."
"So, having the access to the hydrologic resources, as well as being able to be self-sufficient is extremely important at this time."
"I echo the sentiment of Mr. Lynn, and this conveyance provides significant benefits to Wyoming and the Federal Government."
"However, development of projects on tribal trust lands requires jumping through more hoops, more bureaucracy, and involves more agencies than on any other type of land."
"These untapped resources can be a key revenue source for tribes, particularly in rural areas, and can increase the U.S. supply of energy."
"If our agencies are failing our tribes at addressing these energy issues... then we are failing everybody."