Reznet

A Rollercoaster Week for Indian Country

By Kevin Abourezk

Rachel Joseph didn't let the withdrawal of Tom Daschle as a nominee for U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary slow her down this week.

As disappointed as she was about Daschle's departure, she didn't let it stop her from speaking before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Thursday about the need to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

"The sooner we can get the bill moved the better served we are," said Joseph, co-chair of the National Steering Committee for the Reauthorization of the IHCIA.

This week, former South Dakota Sen. Daschle withdrew his nomination for U.S. health secretary after questions over his failure to pay more than $140,000 in back taxes surfaced.

The former Senate majority leader's nomination to the country's highest health position gave many in Indian Country hope that the voluminous problems facing Indian health care might finally be addressed.

As a senator, Daschle had fought for increased funding for the Indian Health Services and was a longtime supporter of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. This week, NCAI leaders tried to focus on the immediate challenges facing Indian Country rather than on Daschle's nomination withdrawal.

"I'm hopeful that Daschle will remain involved in health care reform," said Jackie Johnson Pata, executive director of NCAI. "We'll just have to wait and see who will be the next nominee for that position."

Joseph said she was hopeful Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-Mont.) would introduce the IHCIA in the Senate by the end of March. She said she spoke before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Thursday, imploring committee members to reauthorize the legislation that serves as the primary delivery instrument for Indian health care.

To some extent, Daschle's departure was tempered this week by the progress being made on reauthorization of the IHCIA and by news of an impending Senate stimulus package that could include billions for Native people.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Barack Obama's $819 billion stimulus package. The Senate is now considering a similar bill, which includes $2.8 billion to help tribes.

That amount includes $545 million for Indian health care and $325 million for public safety and justice on reservations. Indian schools would see $327 million, while tribal roads and bridges would enjoy another $486.8 million.

About a half-billion would be spent on Indian housing and another $115 million on facilities improvement and repair.

Johnson Pata said the stimulus money likely won't be divided equally among tribes but rather would be devoted toward federal programs that provide funding to tribes for broader needs like roads, education and health care.

Tribes would need to apply for grants through federal agencies. She urged tribes to begin prioritizing their needs and identifying projects that could be completed within one to two years.

"This is going to move quickly," she said. "They need to be ready to take advantage of the opportunity."

Kevin Abourezk's "Red Clout" columns are available for syndication. Please contact reznet to purchase republishing rights.

Kevin Abourezk, Rosebud Lakota, is a reporter and editor at the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star. He writes reznet's "Red Clout" political blog and teaches reporting at the Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute. Abourezk was awarded a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in 2006.

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