Under our treaty obligations--these are treaty tribes that we need to honor by treating them with the respect they deserve and the health care that we have promised them, and we are failing.

The PRC funding formula does not currently work, because my tribes run out of money by June.

it certainly will help my tribes receive care for more months out of the year.

I think that is why you will see that the bill is drafted as a pilot program for the Great Plains region, because we know that we face a different situation than other regions in the country.

I have not.

the IHS has failed to live up to its treaty and trust obligations to furnish healthcare and failed to treat us with respect and decency.

The tribes will testify to you that they believe a lot of the dollars disappear at the regional center in Aberdeen, that it never quite flows down to the people or actually results in delivered health care to the people.

I have never gotten an answer.

It was a dangerous situation.

they are doing it as charity care, sure, they would like to get something.

So, that was on your watch.

Representative Noem recently introduced H.R. 5437 to implement such a program, and we suggest that the provisions of H.R. 5437 be incorporated into H.R. 5406 to require random drug testing not just for IHS management, but for all IHS…

We appreciate Rep. Noem's initiative to take action in response to failures in the provision of health care in the Great Plains area.

IHS must meet the same quality, safety, and operational standards as all other hospitals.

We believe this would work well for holding IHS accountable to its consultation requirements.

I know we don't move as fast as people would like.

I want to pass a bill that fixes problems and that everybody can get behind and recognize is a huge change.

We appreciate Rep. Noem and the subcommittee's efforts to address the systemic issues which have persisted in the Great Plains region.