Byron Dorgan: “If I might address the majority leader for a moment, we have had a great deal of debate today on the Indian Health Care…”

“If I might address the majority leader for a moment, we have had a great deal of debate today on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and I appreciate, as I said earlier, the willingness of the majority leader to bring this bill to the floor of the Senate. I know it deals with about 4 million Americans. But the fact is there are people dying, dying in this country, because of inadequate health care for a trust requirement, a responsibility our Government has for the health of the American Indians. I know we will be considering that issue still tomorrow. I talked to Senator Coburn, who indicated he has some amendments and will be here tomorrow to be discussing the bill. My hope is we could get the Senators to come and offer amendments, that we can finish these amendments, and for the first time in 10 years get this bill passed. Senator McCain, when chairman of this committee; Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, when chairman; and now myself, along with Vice Chair Murkowski, have worked hard to get this done. We are so close, and I appreciate the cooperation of the majority leader.”