Kristi Noem

A perfect example might be the sunset provision, which requires the deal to be renewed every 5 years.

It seems like every time they take a position, soybeans drops 40 cents a bushel, and we can't hardly pay our bills today.

Do you have other examples besides that one instance?

We need to pay attention that we don't get shut out of those markets by regulatory actions that may happen from those foreign governments.

And I would like to reiterate that all of our recent conversations with the administration, with all the members on this committee, with the U.S. Trade Representative, indicate that we are modernizing NAFTA, that we are not eliminating…

The current Tax Code robs people of their most precious commodity, and that is their time.

I think any reassurance you can continuously give that we are not just focused on a seamless negotiation of NAFTA...

H.R. 2662 addresses several long-standing issues with the Indian Health Service (IHS) and would benefit the Colville Tribes and other tribes in many ways.

I would also like to thank the staff for this Committee, who toured the health facilities on the Colville Reservation last year and heard directly from our staff about the challenges they face in providing care to our members.

I want to acknowledge our South Dakota Congresswoman, Mrs. Kristi Noem, and our gratitude for her reaching out to us on working together on creating this legislation.

We have tried to work with IHS in the past, and that has failed, and that is why we are pushing to have these reforms put in place.

I believe that is why you see HHS on the ground today in South Dakota, because even in light of what has happened in the last couple of years, IHS still has not made the changes that they promised to us that they would make.

This is something that I have heard over and over, dozens and dozens of times through the years, that IHS has ignored many of the protocols.

I would encourage you to ask the others who are going to testify today about what consultation has been in the past.

I want to get this right. I have already reached out to HHS and IHS to obtain technical assistance for this bill.

I am working hard to produce legislative solutions to this problem.

Today I can report to you that some progress has been made, but it's not enough, and it's not happening fast enough.

I told you that the state of Indian health care in South Dakota had fallen to emergency levels.

This bill, while important, I want to be clear is just a first step.

The bill contains several meaningful provisions and ensures that the agency's employees are held accountable.

I introduced the Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act.

We need to get help to these people that are relying on this agency for health care, and they are failing them dramatically.

The state of Indian health care in South Dakota had fallen to emergency levels.

I do want to point out that we have increased funding for Indian health services over many, many years.

We have to acknowledge that to bring about a true transformation at IHS facilities, we need to start funding IHS at an appropriate level.