WASHINGTON – Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska and vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, sat down with Indian Country Today for a wide-ranging interview.
Indian Country Today: How did you come to serve on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee – were Indian issues always something you cared about, or was it sort of happenstance?
Lisa Murkowski: It was quite deliberate. When I came to the Senate in 2003, and I had my opportunity to select committees, I chose to be a member of the Indian Affairs Committee for the specific reason that of the more than 560 federally recognized tribes, you’ve got about half of them located in the state of Alaska. The constituency that I represent is composed of quite a lot of Alaska Natives. … I wanted to be in a position where I could meet [their] needs.
ICT: What is the highlight of the committee’s work for this session?
Murkowski: When I was privileged to be made the ranking member on the Indian Affairs Committee, I sat down with Chairman Byron Dorgan [Democratic senator from North Dakota] and the purpose of the meeting was to talk about the direction of the committee. … I was pleased at that initial sit-down that both of us concurred that our highest priority was a focus on Indian health care and how we can do a better job at providing access and quality care for Alaska Natives and American Indians.
With that commitment, we set about to advance the Indian Health Care Improvement Act reauthorization. We worked hard on that – the two of us and our respective staffs – to move that through the process. I think that the product that we moved through the Senate this past spring is a good bill, good legislation, and we are proud of it.
ICT: Yet the House hasn’t moved on the IHCIA bill. Any insights on why?
Murkowski: There’s an abortion provision in there. All I can tell you is that there has been hesitation on the part of the House to advance this. To think that we could lose all that we have put into this reauthorization in terms of what should be made available to Alaska Natives and American Indians … to throw away all of the good work in the legislation that has been worked by so many for so long … to have it be held up over one or two issues is very, very unfortunate. If there is only one sticking point that is out there, let’s figure out if that sticking point needs to be thrown overboard, so that we don’t scuttle the whole bill.
ICT: Do you think the abortion language is the sticking point? [The language bars the use of federal funds to perform abortions except in certain situations.]
Murkowski: Let’s just say if it were the abortion issue – if that’s the only thing out there that is holding this back – we have got to be better than this. We have got to be able to say, “Let’s figure this out.”
ICT: Included in the Senate’s version of the IHCIA is a national apology based on past federal government misdeeds toward tribes and Indians, which was pushed for by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Do you personally support an apology?
Murkowski: I have no problem at all with that.
ICT: How do you feel about the management of the IHS? [A U.S. Government Accountability Office report released in June identified more than 5,000 lost or stolen property items from 2004 to 2007 alone, estimated by the GAO to be worth almost $16 million.]
Murkowski: I will say at the outset that there are good people with good intentions who work at IHS. … I think what we’ve learned is that there are systems in place that simply do not work. If they don’t work … it does make me wonder. … Even if we were to direct more funding their way, you have to wonder if that is sufficient. … We also need to recognize that what we are asking to be done within IHS is a tall order because they are operating at a deficiency in terms of funding, staffing, adequate training.
ICT: Some tribes are requesting copays from Indians seeking services at their IHS-funded facilities, citing the lack of funds from IHS; but national IHS leaders, including director Robert McSwain, don’t agree with the practice. What do you think?
Murkowski: I concur with Mr. McSwain that requiring copays was not what was contemplated when the trust responsibility deal was made to provide health care to those in Indian country. … I think we need to take it back to the original promise that the federal government shall provide for a level of health care for Alaska Natives and American Indians – without mentioning anything about copayments.
ICT: But then some tribes will ask, “Isn’t it within our sovereign rights to request copays?”
Murkowski: The way that we finessed it through the IHCIA legislation was to give tribes the option of whether or not to seek copayments. But there is no requirement of it.
ICT: What are your thoughts on the stall of the reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act in the House due to the Cherokee freedmen controversy? [Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have said they will block reauthorization unless the freedmen dispute is settled to their liking; the Senate passed the bill in May.]
Murkowski: Congress has been so close to advancing that legislation, which we recognize as incredibly important. … It has been held up, or delayed, in the House, but I remain hopeful that on NAHASDA, we will be able to advance that this year.
ICT: How well do you get along with Senator Dorgan in terms of your goals for Indian country?
Murkowski: I feel that we have a very good working relationship with Senator Dorgan and with his staff. We work well together – there are no surprises. … I think we work together as a team, which benefits Indian country. … I don’t think you’re seeing partisan politics getting in the way when it comes to the actual working of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. That is very, very good for us. And I’m pleased to be part of a committee that takes that approach. I think that has helped us make major accomplishments, and there will be more to come.
