WASHINGTON, D.C. - The evening of Tuesday, May 17, Senator McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced S. 1057, to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), the committee's vice-chairman, joined McCain in introducing the bill.
The bill contains several innovations, such as providing for community and home health care, long term care and enhancing children's health. The bill also contains provisions that will need additional work during the legislative process, such as the sovereignty issue as it pertains to urban clinics and the authority for and scope of the Alaska Native Dental Health Aide Program.
During two national meetings of the National Steering Committee on the Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (NSC), which occurred April 28, during the Direct Service Tribes conference, and May 4, during the Self Governance conference, an overview was provided of Senator McCain's draft legislation that was being considered at that time.
In response to the comments and recommendations of tribal leaders during those meetings, and with adherence to the policies adopted throughout the NSC process, a formal response to the draft was provided by the NSC to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
As McCain said in his remarks upon introducing the bill, "In the legislation today, I have tried to address concerns raised last year, but understand that there will still be some differences. I look forward to continuing discussion on these differences, but am introducing the bill to get the process moving because we want to get this legislation enacted."
