Budget talks include historic funding for IHS

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003

Update: The Senate today voted 48-51 against the Daschle amendment. All Democrats voted yes, plus Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), while all Republicans voted no, including Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.). A separate amendment to increase the IHS budget was then offered and approved unanimously by a voice vote.

Calling the Bush administration's latest budget request inadequate, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) on Monday introduced a measure to double funds for the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Offered as part of the Senate's ongoing budget negotiations, the amendment would add $2.9 billion to the IHS in fiscal year 2004. It further provides for a 10-year increase of $38.7 billion to the agency charged with promoting the health and welfare of more than 1 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

"The health coverage currently provided by the IHS is so inadequate that Native American men, women, and children are routinely denied even the most basic medical care that most of us take for granted and, in many cases, would consider essential," Daschle said yesterday. "I told my colleagues on the floor of the Senate today that more funds are desperately needed above what the President has requested in his budget, and urged them to support my amendment that provides this funding."

When President Bush released his budget last month, he asked Congress to fund the IHS at $2.89 billion. This was a $73 million increase, or 2.6 percent, from his 2003 request.

But when compared to the amount enacted by Congress and signed into law, the 2004 request is just 0.7 percent above current levels, Dr. Charles Grim, the interim IHS director, acknowledged recently. Grim has warned tribes to expect "austere" restrictions on federal spending in the coming years.

Daschle's amendment would change that by authorizing an historic increase in IHS funds. The money, he said, will enable the federal government to meet its trust obligations to Indian Country.

The House version of the $2.2 trillion budget blueprint was approved last week but doesn't include the higher IHS levels. In years past, the chamber has supported IHS increases.

The Senate resumes debate today on its version of the $2.2 trillion resolution. Senators voted last week to strip $100 billion from Bush's 10-year, $726 billion tax cuts. The House kept the amount intact.

The Senate budget resolution is S.Con.Res.23.

Audio:
MP3: Senator Daschle on IHS Budget Resolution Amendment (March 24, 2003)

Budget Resolution:
S.Con.Res.23

Relevant Links:
Sen. Tom Daschle - http://daschle.senate.gov
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov
Department of Health and Human Services - http://www.hhs.gov