Opinion: Bill cuts health care for Cherokee Nation

Friday, October 12, 2007  

"Cherokee Nation Health Services provides more than 326,000 patient visits annually, serving more than 126,000 American Indians/Alaska Natives, including many UKBCIO citizens.

If California congresswoman Diane Watson has her way and cuts off all funding to our tribe, other local private and public health systems will be instantly flooded with patients that we currently serve.

The very people [Billy] McCoy is so concerned about will be without health care.

If McCoy would read up on Cherokee Nation’s citizenship law, perhaps he would understand that it is constitutionally-driven.

Our laws say that the principal chief cannot change our Constitution any more than the president of the United States can amend the U.S. Constitution. Only the Cherokee people can do that. We are a law-abiding people.

I hope that I have shed some light on the true facts in this situation and can assure each and every one of you that we will continue to strive to meet all health care needs."

Get the Story:
Melissa Gower: Indian Health Service funds for all tribes; CNO funds for its citizens (The Muskogee Daily Phoenix 10/12)

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786 | H.R.2895 | H.R.2824 | H.R.3002

BIA Letters:
August 9, 2007 | July 11, 2007 | June 22, 2007 | May 21, 2007 | March 28, 2007 | August 30, 2006

Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19, 2006)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes - http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen Conference - http://www.freedmenconference.com
Congressional Black Caucus, Annual Leadership Conference - http://www.alc2007.com

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