Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance
November 22, 2024
Press Releases

Dorgan to introduce Indian health bill on Wednesday

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
by
jodi@imfreedomalliance.org https://twitter.com/JodiRave
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JT Shining Oneside shared stories about her Ojibwe and Anishinaabe inheritance during the Native American Heritage Month Celebration on Nov. 15. She spoke about the coming-of-age and traditional birth ceremonies. (Photo credit/ Adrianna Adame)
While it appeared the Indian health bill might be dead in Congress, a staff person for Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said the senator would introduce the bill on Wednesday.
Binney spoke to participants attending the National Congress of American Indians convention in Palm Springs, Calif. The conference ends Friday.
The legislation would send some $35 billion to Native health care programs during the next 10 years, including better access to health care services, such as mental health programs.
 
The legislation would also help build new clinics and recruit more Indians into health professions. Congress was expected to adjourn in December without sending the bill to President Barack Obama.
Maybe, just maybe, Native people will finally get a health care bill passed.
Jodi Rave
Posted in Press Releases
Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
jodi@imfreedomalliance.org https://twitter.com/JodiRave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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