The following is a press release from Senator Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota).

Senator Tom Daschle will kick off an effort to push for a dramatic increase in funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS) with visits this Friday, February 20 to the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian Reservations.

Earlier this month, President Bush released his budget proposal for next year, which includes only $2.1 billion for the IHS clinical services account that funds individual health care services, far below the $5.54 billion that Senator Daschle is pushing for. The Bush budget actually spends twice as much on health care for federal prisoners as it does on Native Americans. Twice last year the Republican majority in the Senate blocked Daschle's legislation

"America gave its word that the Indian Health Service would provide quality health care to Native Americans. The President's budget breaks that promise," said Daschle.

During the visits, Daschle will be gathering signatures on his "Quality Health Care Petition," which protests the Bush Administration's budget that under-funds quality health care for Native Americans. The petitions will be sent to the White House and shared with Daschle's colleagues in the Senate.

"Our priorities are wrong. The government spends twice as much to take care of a convict as they are to take care of a Native American child. And the quality of care at some of our IHS facilities is not good enough because they lack the funds to do the job that is needed. That is why I am putting pressure on the Republicans to support our fight for quality health care for Native Americans."

Daschle's Schedule for February 20th includes:

10:30 AM - St. Francis Community Meeting and Lunch to Discuss IHS Funding
Meeting and Lunch are open to the public
St. Francis School

1:10 PM - Tour Pine Ridge IHS Hospital and Meet with Providers

2:15 PM -Pine Ridge Community Meeting and Lunch to Discuss IHS Funding
Meeting and Lunch are open to the public
Billy Mills Hall

Budget Documents:
HHS Budget in Brief | HHS Performance Plan | Secretary Thompson's Remarks

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov
Department of Health and Human Services - http://www.hhs.gov

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