Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to speak about a bill I introduced last week to provide forward funding appropriations for the Indian Health Service. The IHS is charged with delivering health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives as part of our Federal trust responsibility, and I believe that forward funding the IHS is the right thing to do, just like Congress forward funds our VA as part of our obligation to our veterans. The budget uncertainty we have put our tribal health providers in is shameful. We may not be able to ensure our Nation's indigenous children will receive their immunizations. We might not be able to ensure our elders will be able to receive the care they need. We cannot guarantee basic medical services will be provided, including prenatal and dental for our first Americans, who rely on funding from the Indian Health Service. The situation is disgraceful, and the health statistics of our first Americans reflect that. Without Federal funding for fiscal year 14, HHS has determined that those receiving care from the Indian Health Service will continue to receive clinical care, but for tribes that operate their own health programs, payments will not be transferred. Yet, just like the Indian Health Service, our tribal health providers must keep providing care. The budget uncertainty we have imposed on those delivering health services is unconscionable.…”