Jackie Johnson Pata, the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, briefly addressed President Barack Obama at the White House fiscal responsibility summit on Monday.

Johnson spoke of the need to invest in communities in order to improve health status. "I think if we look at access issues for those from Native American communities like mine, or rural America or other places that create that access with community support and have the right mid-level service providers and others that can reach to the smaller communities across America," she said.

Johnson's remarks can be viewed in the video at about 29:51.

White House Transcript:
Remarks by the President in question and answer session at the closing of the Fiscal Responsibility Summit (February 23, 2009)

C-SPAN Video:
Pres. Obama Closing Remarks (February 23, 2009)