[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 178 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14609-S14610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, on October 31, President Bush proclaimed 
November 2007 as National American Indian Heritage Month.
  American Indians influence and enrich our culture. I am proud of the 
contributions that Nevada's tribes have made and continue to make in my 
home State. The 26 tribes, bands, and colonies support their tribal and 
surrounding communities with their diverse tribal enterprises. Working 
on a government-to-government basis, they join Federal and State 
agencies to protect many of Nevada's natural resources and the 
environment--our wildlife habitats in mountains and valleys and our 
lakes and waterways for fish and fowl. The tribes in my State, like 
tribes throughout the country, provide education and health services to 
their children, elders, and members.

[[Page S14610]]

I am proud of the leadership and opportunities many tribal leaders are 
providing for their people and that improve the lives of their 
neighbors.
  Mr. President, I want to remind my colleagues of an anniversary this 
year. Fifteen years ago, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act 
Amendments of 1992 became law. My friend and colleague, Senator Inouye, 
as chairman of the then-named Select Committee on Indian Affairs, led 
the effort to reauthorize the principal law governing Indian health 
services and programs. I joined Senator Akaka, Senator Cochran, Senator 
Conrad, Senator Domenici, Senator Kennedy, Senator McCain, Senator 
Stevens, and others to sponsor that bill, which became law. Incredible 
to think today, but S. 2481 was passed by a voice vote on the Senate 
floor.
  The 1992 law was due to be reauthorized in 1999. Because of Senator 
Dorgan's passion for this issue and his regular statements on the 
Senate floor, we all know that the bill has been reauthorized annually 
since then, but more needs to be done.
  The bill before us, S. 1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act 
Amendments of 2007, reflects the leadership and work of members on both 
sides of the aisle. Leaders on the Indian Affairs, Finance, and HELP 
Committees have worked to refine the bill with many Federal departments 
and agencies, national tribal organizations, and individual tribal 
leaders. It is a bipartisan, consensus bill that has been negotiated 
since the 105th Congress.
  S. 1200 clarifies current law and authorizes critical services for 
Indian Country--strengthening recruitment, retention, and training 
programs for health care professionals; encouraging health care 
practioners to consult with other professionals using telemedicine and 
other technologic tools; expanding programs for behavioral health, to 
address problems of youth suicide and violence against women and 
children; improving individual access to other Federal health programs 
serving the most vulnerable people in our population--Medicaid, 
Medicare, and the Childrens Health Insurance Program; and helping 
tribes better coordinate with Federal programs to maximize the health 
services available to their members.
  I am pleased that many of my colleagues who supported the 1992 
legislation and whom I just mentioned are sponsoring this bill--with 29 
cosponsors, including Senator Craig Thomas, our former colleague and 
ranking member of the Indian Affairs Committee.
  I applaud the hard work of my colleagues, particularly Senator Dorgan 
and Senator Baucus. As I have said before, I am committed to bring this 
bipartisan bill to the floor for the full Senate's consideration, and I 
ask that the Republican leader work with me to bring this bipartisan 
bill to the floor in a timely and efficient manner.
  Mr. President, as we acknowledge November as National American Indian 
Heritage Month, I cannot think of a better, or more timely, way to 
honor our indigenous people than by reauthorizing the Indian health 
bill. We must honor our Federal obligations to these people--just as 
many Native Americans have served and continue to serve this country, 
every day on battlefields, in government offices, in classrooms, in the 
wilderness, and on waterways.

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