63 



one's benefit if hearings of this type were scheduled during those 

 weeks that tribes plan to be in Washington in order to increase 

 tribal participation and to help reduce travel costs to them. 



Since this meeting was first announced, my office has been 

 bombarded with calls from many tribes across the country, inquir- 

 ing about the intent of this particular hearing, and their interest 

 in participating. 



I would like to kindly suggest that due to the importance of natu- 

 ral resource program funding to tribes, that the Committee con- 

 sider conducting regional meetings to get full participation from as 

 many different tribes as possible, and to better understand the dif- 

 ferent concerns specific to those regions. 



Thank you for your attention and interest. 



[Editor's note. — Documents submitted by Mr. Povnter for the 

 record may be found in their entirety in the hearing files.] 



[Prepared statement of Mr. Poynter with selected exhibits fol- 

 lows:] 



