[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 30 (Monday, February 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           INDIAN HEALTH CARE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, in the month since this year's congressional 
session has opened, we have had the ability to focus on some of the 
domestic priorities our country faces.
  Today we turn to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Although we 
often have legitimate disagreements on matters of policy, Senator 
McConnell and members of the Republican Caucus have worked with us in a 
bipartisan manner on what we believe is a critical piece of legislation 
that does so much for the Native American community. I appreciate their 
efforts.
  Chairman Dorgan and Senator Murkowski deserve our thanks for their 
leadership and hard work in managing this legislation.
  Chairman Baucus and Senator Grassley followed suit, working on a 
bipartisan basis on provisions to improve the way by which the Indian 
health care system and tribal recipients can participate more fully in 
Social Security and the benefits that relate to health in Social 
Security. Senators Kennedy, Bingaman, Kyl, and Enzi spent years working 
on this legislation. Because of their efforts and those of countless 
tribal leaders and Federal agency staff, this is legislation that 
Democrats and Republicans can all support now.

  A final word of praise is due to the tribal advocates who stood 
behind this cause from the beginning: The National Congress of American 
Indians, the National Indian Health Board, the National Council of 
Urban Indian Health, the Indian Health Board of Nevada, and other State 
tribal organizations which have played crucial roles in this 
legislation. I say with confidence that this bill reflects their 
priorities, their varied interests, and their solutions to the problems 
that plague the health care system upon which Native Americans rely.
  I was glad to be an original cosponsor of this initiative. Over the 
past 8 years, my staff and I have had countless meetings with tribal 
leaders. Now tribal leaders are making clear how this legislation is 
needed all over the country. It is needed for 30,000 Native Americans 
living in Nevada and millions living throughout the United States.
  Right now, our Native American communities have access to the least 
adequate health care in America. Far too many Native children are 
diagnosed with diabetes, suffer from abuse and neglect or die 
prematurely because of accidents or illness that could have been 
prevented or cured with basic health care. Far too many adult Indians 
get lost in a sea of bureaucracy and fail to receive preventive care 
and other health benefits they need and deserve. We can and must do 
better, and this legislative initiative will help Federal and tribal 
health professionals deliver quality care to Native Americans of all 
ages. It supports the recruitment and retention of doctors, nurses, 
pharmacists, and other health professionals for Indian health programs. 
It strengthens and expands health services to American Indians. For the 
first time, tribes will be allowed to use Federal funds to provide 
hospice, long-term care and home-based and community-based care for 
elders and the most vulnerable tribal members. It increases individual 
access to health services by facilitating third-party reimbursements 
from private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and other Federal health 
benefit programs. It expressly addresses behavioral health needs of 
adults and children by authorizing programs to address suicide, 
substance abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence programs affecting 
some communities and households. It furthers tribal self-determination 
sovereignty by authorizing consultation and rulemaking on important 
programs affecting health delivery and access.
  Chairman Dorgan has often said America spends more on health care, 
per person, on Federal prisoners than on Native Americans. Senator 
Dorgan has said that many times. This bill is only part of the 
solution, but it is a critical first step. I urge all my colleagues to 
finish work and approve this bill in the same spirit of bipartisan 
cooperation it has seen from the beginning.
  Millions of our first Americans await our action. Let's quickly pass 
this bill and send it to the President for his signature. We must let 
our country's Native Americans know they are not forgotten and that we 
will deliver them the care they have earned.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader is 
recognized.

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