Don Young: “The main thing is that the reason the bill is different is the way it was scored. And I believe it was $11 billion. And…”

“The main thing is that the reason the bill is different is the way it was scored. And I believe it was $11 billion. And as much as I believe there is justification there, we could not get it to pass the muster of other parts of this House nor the administration. What we are trying to do is make sure that any tribal group that enters into a forwarding of money to set up a program, which they have been guaranteed, that they are being paid retroactively if they are owed money and in fact will be paid in the future. I think that is only fair. Because what has happened many times is they entered into a contract and then the agency, BIA or IHS, do not pay the forwarded monies and in consequence they have to swallow it themselves, and that takes away from the health programs, very frankly, of the Native American people. I do hope that the gentleman will recognize the importance of this legislation; and although he may ask for a vote, I do not really put much truck in this administration.”