Abourezk: GOP candidates silent on IHCIA

Friday, January 18, 2008  

"A major Senate vote affecting every Native person in America is just around the corner, and a recent survey of presidential candidates on the bill is offering some insight into what they think about the bill.

The Senate will vote on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act on Jan. 22. The bill essentially affects every facet of Indian health care in America and is an effort to modernize Native health care.

Last August, the American Association of People with Disabilities sent a survey to every presidential candidate asking whether they would support the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and what they would do to improve the quality of health provided to Native people with disabilities.

It's telling that none of the top three Republican candidates (former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Sen. John McCain) responded to the survey. All of the top three Democratic candidates (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards) responded to the survey."

Get the Story:
Kevin Abourezk: GOP Candidates Silent on Indian Health Bill (Reznet News January 2008)

House Energy and Commerce Committee Documents:
Summary | Manager's Amendment | Press Release | Webcast

Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments:
S.1200 | H.R.1328

Relevant Documents:
Letter to President Bush | Letter to Alberto Gonzales | DOJ White Paper

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov
National Indian Health Board - http://www.nihb.org

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