MP3 Files: Opening Statements | Testimony | Q&A

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is expected to vote on the nomination of Yvette Roubideaux to be director of the Indian Health Service at a business meeting next Thursday, April 30, according to the office of Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota).

Roubideaux, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, went before the committee on Thursday for her confirmation hearing. She received support from members of both parties, who called on her to make management and service improvements at the agency.

Dorgan, the chairman, in particular said he was frustrated with the last IHS director. He said Bob McSwain, who was a Bush nominee, promised to address management issues at a health facility in North Dakota but didn't take action to resolve an outstanding problem.

The Senate has yet to vote on Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Republicans are raising concerns about abortion, The New York Times reported, an issue that also surfaced during consideration of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act during the 110th Congress.

Committee Hearing:
HEARING on the nomination of Yvette Roubideaux to be Director of the Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (April 23, 2009)

Related Stories:
Confirmation hearing for Roubideaux at IHS (4/23)
Senate panel backs Sebelius as HHS secretary (4/22)
Senate confirmation hearing for Roubideaux at IHS (4/20)
Confirmation hearing for IHS nominee on April 23 (4/14)
Native women take top positions in Washington DC (4/9)
Obama selects Native woman for IHS position (03/24)
Kevin Abourezk: IHS gets $500M from stimulus (03/20)
IHS Director: National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness (03/19)
Biden announces $3M tribal senior nutrition funds (03/19)
Omnibus funds North Dakota tribe's overdue hospital (03/17)
Kevin Abourezk: Problems with Indian stimulus funds (03/13)
Death rates high among Natives in Washington (03/12)
Kansas governor tapped for Health secretary post (03/02)
Obama announces first budget (2/27)