Political Quotes

“this amendment also relates to the Indian Health Service. This amendment would increase the budget for the Indian Health Service by $282 million. This is intended to track the recommendation that the Indian Affairs Committee sent to the Budget Committee in its views and estimates letter. It provides the funding for those priorities that were set out in the committee's list. We are looking at increases for clinical services, a 50-percent increase for services to urban Indians, a $90 million increase for contract support costs and an additional $61 million for health facilities construction. This amendment would make all of these increases possible. Of particular interest to me, the amendment enables an additional $10 million increase in funding for sanitation facilities construction, which is incredibly important to my home State. 40 percent of the unmet need for sanitation, as identified by the Indian Health Service, is in Alaska. This amendment also envisions a substantial funding increase for the Community Health Aide Practitioner Program, which the Indian Health Service regards as a national model. The increases in this amendment are defensible. We recognize we have a long way to go when it comes to improving the health condition of our Native peoples, but I think this is a good and reasonable step in that direction. I urge Members to support this amendment.”