Byron Dorgan: “Some might wonder why there is a separate Indian health care bill, and the answer is relatively simple: because this…”

“Some might wonder why there is a separate Indian health care bill, and the answer is relatively simple: because this country has a trust responsibility--a trust responsibility that has grown over a long period of time and has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, affirmed by treaties with various Indian tribes--a trust responsibility to provide health care for Native Americans. The last comprehensive reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act was 15 years ago in 1992. The act itself has been expired for the last 7 years, and it is long past the time for this Congress to reauthorize this program. Even though the act has expired, the Indian Health Service continues to provide Indian health care, despite not having a current authorization. But with advances in medicine and in the delivery and in the administration of health care, we need to finally pass this reauthorization and give the Indian population of this country the advantage of the expansions we will do in this reauthorization bill.”