“Based on the government-to-government relationship, self-governance allows tribes to step into the shoes of the United States and administer Federal programs and services provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA] and the Indian Health Service [IHS]. Since its inception, self-governance has resulted in a higher quality of services, more skilled tribal personnel, political and economic self-determination among tribes, and, in many instances, more efficient use of scarce Federal dollars.
My colleagues are familiar with the poor state of Native health. Diabetes, cancer, alcoholism, drug abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, among other diseases, are rampant in Native communities. Today the committee will receive testimony on S. 979, a bill that
I introduced along with Senator McCain, to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.”
