With health care reform on the national agenda, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, hopes to include Indian Country in the debate.

Dorgan introduced S.1790, the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009, on October 15. He plans to attach the bill to any piece of national health legislation.

"Nowadays, the need for national health care reform is front page news, but our Native Americans have long been in need of health care reforms," said Dorgan. "Therefore, I intend to offer this Native American health bill as an amendment to any national health care reform bill considered on the Senate floor."

The bill has 15 co-sponsors.

Get the Story:
Bill offers boost to Indian health (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/19)

Related Stories:
Dorgan introduces updated version of health bill (10/15)
Dorgan readies 'streamlined' version of IHCIA (10/13)