[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2006

  Mr. DORGAN, Mr. President, earlier today I spoke on the Senate floor 
about the need to pass the Indian Health Care Improvement 
Reauthorization bill. My colleagues, Senator McCain and Senator Enzi, 
have worked long and hard over the past several weeks to address the 
many objections that have been raised by the Department of Justice and 
the Department of Health and Human Services.
  Those negotiations have brought clarity to the positions of the 
administration and have helped to define how legislation can best 
address the health crisis in Indian country. In an effort to 
memorialize those discussions, I am joining Senators McCain and Enzi in 
cosponsoring the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2006. 
The bill being introduced tonight reflects, to a significant extent, 
the bill that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved in 
October 2005. It also reflects the many hours of negotiations and 
meetings with the administration, the Indian Affairs Committee, the 
Finance Committee, and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 
Committee. In spite of the dedication of all those involved, however, 
the bill reflects progress but not perfection.
  I have talked to the tribal leaders who are advocates for Indian 
health care improvements about this bill. They, too, are pleased that 
we have made some progress. But they, too, feel there have been too 
many compromises and we must begin with a fresh view of how to improve 
the health care of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
  When the 110th Congress convenes in January, I intend to work with 
Indian Country and my colleagues in the Senate and in the House to 
produce a bill that will put solutions for Indian people front and 
center. We have spent far too much time these past 8 years focusing on 
legalistic issues rather than on human needs. I thank Senator McCain 
and Senator Enzi for their leadership in bringing us to this important 
juncture and I look forward to working with them over the next 2 years 
to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

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