February 27, 2008

Senate Passes Historic Native American Health Legislation


WASHINGTON DC
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer 2/26/2008

The United States Senate gave overwhelming final approval to the Indian
Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 Tuesday. U.S. Senator Byron
Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said the
legislation, which passed with a vote of 83-10, is the first update of this
critical Indian Health Care legislation in 16 years.

The legislation creates important new Indian health programs and improves
existing successful programs. It expands cancer screenings, improves
communicable and infectious disease monitoring, and enhances recruitment and
scholarship programs for Indian health professionals.

The United States government has a legal trust responsibility, based on
treaties, statutes and long-standing practice, to provide health care to the
estimated 1.9 million Native Americans.

“Today marks a major step in health care for Native Americans. The bill
includes several programs that will help combat the most serious health
issues facing American Indians and it contains programs to promote Native
Americans entering the health care field,” Dorgan said. “But we have to
remember that this is just a start to the work that needs to be done to meet
and pay for the health care obligations that we have to American Indians and
Alaska Natives.”

The Indian Health Care Improvement Act is the culmination of many years of
work. The legislation has been introduced several times, but it was under
Senator Dorgan’s leadership that the bill finally passed the Senate.

While the legislation creates new programs to prevent teenage suicides,
domestic violence and sexual abuse and enhances and expands current diabetes
screening efforts, Dorgan said more funding is needed so these programs can
make a difference in these communities.

“For years, funding has fallen far below what is required, and to make true
progress, the Indian Health Care system must be fully funded. It’s
scandalous when our federal government spends almost twice as much per
person for health care for federal prisoners as we do for First Americans,”
Dorgan concluded.

The legislation will now be considered by the House of Representatives.


KEY PROVISIONS OF THE INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008

The Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2008:

Ø Continues the program to increase recruitment and scholarship programs for
Indian health professionals;

Ø Expands current cancer screening programs for Native Americans;

Ø Improves communicable and infectious disease monitoring;

Ø Improves and expands the current diabetes screening including the
treatment and control of the disease;

Ø Expands the program to prevent domestic violence and sexual abuse among
Native American communities;

Ø Allows tribes to use maintenance funds for renovation, modernization,
expansion or to construct a replacement facility, when it is not
economically practical to repair a facility;

Ø Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund urban Indian
youth residential treatment centers to provide alcohol and substance abuse
treatment services to urban Indian youth in a culturally competent
residential setting;

Ø Creates an Indian Youth Telemental Health Demonstration Project to address
youth suicide prevention, intervention and treatment;

Ø Establishes requirements for privacy protections so that the Indian Health
Service and tribal health programs are in line with other health agencies
and departments;

Ø Encourages states to increase outreach to Indians residing on or near a
reservation and help them to enroll in the SCHIP and Medicaid programs

Regional Consultation Reports | Draft of Proposed Reauthorization Bill

National Steering Committee Proposed Bill to
Reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
(PDF format .pdf; 1000KB)

IHS-6 Title by Title Summary (Microsoft Word Format .doc)

Table of Contents - Titles I - VIII listed below.
Findings - Public Law 94-437 94th Congress (Microsoft Word Format .doc)

Title I - Indian Health Man Power(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title II - Health Services(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title III - Health Facilities(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title IV - Access to Health Services(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title IV Section 401-406 (WordPerfect Format .wpd)
Title V - Health Services for Urban Indians(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title VI - Organizational Improvements(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title VII - Substance Abuse Programs(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Title VIII - Miscellaneous(Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Free-Standing Provisions (Microsoft Word Format .doc)

Opening Page of Reauthorization (WordPerfect Format .wpd)
Goals of "Speaking with One Voice" (WordPerfect Format .wpd)
Reauthorization of 437 Status Report, Titles I-VIII (WordPerfect Format .wpd)
National Meeting on July 28, 29, 1999 -- Goals and Outcomes (WordPerfect Format .wpd)
Overview of Consultation Process (WordPerfect Format .wpd)

Regional Consultation Reports:

Draft Report On the Indian Health Service Regional I/T/U Consultation Meeting held January 12, 13, 1999 In Rapid City, South Dakota (Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Draft Report On the Indian Health Service Regional I/T/U Consultation Meeting held February 1, 2, 1999 In Reno, Nevada (Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Draft Report On the Indian Health Service Regional I/T/U Consultation Meeting held March 30, 31, 1999 In Las Vegas, Nevada (Microsoft Word Format .doc)
Draft Report On the Indian Health Service Regional I/T/U Consultation Meeting held April 6, 7, 1999 In New Orleans, Louisiana (Microsoft Word Format .doc)
top

Draft of the Proposed Reauthorization Bill - July 16, 1999 (8 titles, a cover and a preamble)
(Bill in WordPerfect Format .wpd)
Cover
Preamble
Title 1
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4
Title 5
Title 6
Title 7
Title 8
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sSPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE
Reauthorization of The Indian Health Care Improvement Act
IHS Tribes and Urban design

Our goal in the Reauthorization project is to conduct a comprehensive consultation process which will result in Indian Country reaching consensus on key policy issues that will be reflected in the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act P.L. 94-437.

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 2nd Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary
Question: On Passage of the Bill (S.1200 as Amended )
Vote Number: 32 Vote Date: February 26, 2008, 10:58 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Bill Passed
Measure Number: S. 1200 (Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007 )
Measure Title: A bill to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise and extend the Act.
Vote Counts:YEAs83

NAYs10

Not Voting7
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State
Alphabetical by Senator Name
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Barrasso (R-WY), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Not Voting
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Corker (R-TN), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Not Voting
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Dodd (D-CT), Not Voting
Dole (R-NC), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Nay
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Gregg (R-NH), Nay
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Not Voting
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Not Voting
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Not Voting
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Nay
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Not Voting
Webb (D-VA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
Wicker (R-MS), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State
Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs ---83
Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wicker (R-MS)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs ---10
Allard (R-CO)
Coburn (R-OK)
Corker (R-TN)
DeMint (R-SC)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Sessions (R-AL)
Sununu (R-NH)
Vitter (R-LA)
Not Voting - 7
Clinton (D-NY)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Dodd (D-CT)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)
Warner (R-VA)
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State
Grouped by Home State
Alabama:Sessions (R-AL), NayShelby (R-AL), Yea
Alaska:Murkowski (R-AK), YeaStevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona:Kyl (R-AZ), YeaMcCain (R-AZ), Not Voting
Arkansas:Lincoln (D-AR), YeaPryor (D-AR), Yea
California:Boxer (D-CA), YeaFeinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:Allard (R-CO), NaySalazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut:Dodd (D-CT), Not VotingLieberman (ID-CT), Not Voting
Delaware:Biden (D-DE), YeaCarper (D-DE), Yea
Florida:Martinez (R-FL), YeaNelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia:Chambliss (R-GA), YeaIsakson (R-GA), Yea
Hawaii:Akaka (D-HI), YeaInouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho:Craig (R-ID), YeaCrapo (R-ID), Yea
Illinois:Durbin (D-IL), YeaObama (D-IL), Not Voting
Indiana:Bayh (D-IN), YeaLugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa:Grassley (R-IA), YeaHarkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas:Brownback (R-KS), YeaRoberts (R-KS), Yea
Kentucky:Bunning (R-KY), YeaMcConnell (R-KY), Yea
Louisiana:Landrieu (D-LA), YeaVitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine:Collins (R-ME), YeaSnowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland:Cardin (D-MD), YeaMikulski (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts:Kennedy (D-MA), YeaKerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan:Levin (D-MI), YeaStabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota:Coleman (R-MN), YeaKlobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi:Cochran (R-MS), YeaWicker (R-MS), Yea
Missouri:Bond (R-MO), YeaMcCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Montana:Baucus (D-MT), YeaTester (D-MT), Yea
Nebraska:Hagel (R-NE), YeaNelson (D-NE), Yea
Nevada:Ensign (R-NV), YeaReid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire:Gregg (R-NH), NaySununu (R-NH), Nay
New Jersey:Lautenberg (D-NJ), YeaMenendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico:Bingaman (D-NM), YeaDomenici (R-NM), Yea
New York:Clinton (D-NY), Not VotingSchumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina:Burr (R-NC), YeaDole (R-NC), Yea
North Dakota:Conrad (D-ND), YeaDorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio:Brown (D-OH), YeaVoinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:Coburn (R-OK), NayInhofe (R-OK), Nay
Oregon:Smith (R-OR), YeaWyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:Casey (D-PA), YeaSpecter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:Reed (D-RI), YeaWhitehouse (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:DeMint (R-SC), NayGraham (R-SC), Nay
South Dakota:Johnson (D-SD), YeaThune (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee:Alexander (R-TN), YeaCorker (R-TN), Nay
Texas:Cornyn (R-TX), Not VotingHutchison (R-TX), Yea
Utah:Bennett (R-UT), YeaHatch (R-UT), Yea
Vermont:Leahy (D-VT), YeaSanders (I-VT), Yea
Virginia:Warner (R-VA), Not VotingWebb (D-VA), Yea
Washington:Cantwell (D-WA), YeaMurray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:Byrd (D-WV), YeaRockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Wisconsin:Feingold (D-WI), YeaKohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:Barrasso (R-WY), YeaEnzi (R-WY), Yea
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State

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