If the committee members would come back, I think that the witnesses have really compelling testimony, and I think it would be beneficial, as this legislation moves forward.

I want to thank the subcommittee for having this important hearing on this critical issue. I also want to give particular thanks to Representative Noem for introducing this Act.

We thank the subcommittee for having this important hearing on this critical issue.

I would also like to thank Representative Noem for her partnership and for focusing attention on the critical needs of health care for Native Americans.

What my legislation does is that it reimburses at Medicare rates.

Well, what created the situation was CMS coming in and saying they would no longer reimburse for services provided in that emergency department because of conditions that were occurring there.

For 7 months the emergency department has been closed.

My tribes will tell you that they feel as though no consultation happens and that virtually they are left out of the decisionmaking process.

The Indian Health Service is beyond broken. Fixing it is literally a matter of life and death.

The Indian Health Service is beyond broken, and fixing it is literally a matter of life and death.

My bill would require that IHS update this formula and ensure that the money is getting to those people who need it the most.

As I have said before, I believe the IHS should get out of the hospital business, and my bill is a step in that direction.

I respectfully request that the members of the subcommittee allow me to join them on the dais for the remainder of the hearing.

Every day that emergency department is closed down and services are diverted, their people are dying.

The quality of health care that is being delivered in my tribal communities is third-world health care, and it should not be happening in this country.

I also want to thank Congresswoman Noem for being here and discussing your bill.

Money alone will not fix the problems.

The thing that has been the most frustrating for me is that, as you will hear in the testimony today of the IHS's Acting Director, they have some criticisms of our bill, which we have been waiting weeks now for more technical assistance.