President Bush's proposal to eliminate the 33 million urban Indian health program isn't the first time the program has been on the chopping block.

In 1983, then-president Ronald Reagan sought to get rid of the program. But former Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Washington) made sure that didn't happen.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is planning to repeat history again this year. "They know this is not a cut that is going to go through. It will never happen," Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Washington) told The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Urban Indian health clinics say they will be forced to cut back on services or close their facilities if the cut isn't restored.

Get the Story:
Indian clinic's budget number being called, again (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/3)

FY2007 HHS Budget in Brief:
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Relevant Links:
National Council of Urban Indian Health - http://www.ncuih.org
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

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