Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to call on President Trump to nominate a Director for the Indian Health Service. There are many critical issues facing Indian Country--economic development, infrastructure, protection of Native lands, respect for Tribal governments--and after years and years of broken promises, discrimination, and neglect, Washington owes Tribes a fighting chance to build stronger communities and a brighter future. The Federal Indian trust responsibility means that Washington has a basic legal obligation to the Tribes. Washington also has a fundamental moral obligation, and that starts with basic healthcare. American Indians have treaty rights to healthcare from the Federal Government, but the U.S. Government cannot fulfill our treaty obligations if key posts, such as the Director of IHS, lay vacant for years. The IHS is a big deal. It is the primary Federal healthcare provider for American Indians and Alaska Natives. It serves 2.2 million people spread across 36 States. It has a budget of nearly $5 billion annually. The IHS provides care through more than 660 clinics, hospitals, and health stations on or near reservations, many of them in remote and rural locations located hours away from other health facilities. It serves more than 13 million outpatient visitors a year. The doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers at IHS hospitals and clinics do everything from delivering babies, to providing dental services, to fighting the opioid crisis.…”