Rep. Mullin Presses Congressional Leadership to Consider Bill to Fund IHS

Published January 22, 2019

WASHINGTON — Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to bring H.R. 195, the Pay Our Doctors Act, to the House floor for consideration.  The letter to Speaker Pelosi can be found HERE.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma)

Excerpts:

“The federal government is currently in violation of hundreds of treaties, trusts, and contracts made with Tribal Nations for failing to provide health care to American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN).”

“Without those funds, tribally-operated hospitals, and Urban Indian Health Programs are forced to make ends meet by using any remaining rollover funds from the previous year.  If no funds are available, hospitals, and clinics are forced to furlough or lay-off staff.”

“While Congress and the President remain at an impasse over funding the government and securing our border, I encourage you to bring the Pay Our Doctors Act to the floor to remove Native American health care from the crosshairs of this political fight…The federal obligation to Native Americans is clear.  The federal government must fulfill its obligation by providing health care to Indian Country.  Anything other than a full execution of those responsibilities is unacceptable.”

Mullin reintroduced the Pay Our Doctors Act (H.R. 195) in the 116^th Congress.  The Pay Our Doctors Act has 13 bipartisan cosponsors:

·         Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4)

·         Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-4)

·         Rep. Michael Simpson (R-ID-2)

·         Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36)

·         Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY-9)

·         Rep. Kendra Horn (D-OK-5)

·         Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)

·         Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT-At Large)

·         Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-1)

·         Rep. Don Young (R-AK-At Large)

·         Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA-35)

·         Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI-4)

·         Rep. John R. Curtis (R-UT-3)