Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Abortion Language In Indian Health Care Bill: The Senate on Feb. 26 adopted an amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvements Act (S 1200) by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., that modifies the section related to the limitations on the uses of federal funds appropriated to the Indian Health Service. The goal of the amendment was to codify language in federal law that limits the use of government funds for the purposes of providing for or supporting abortions. Vitter said the goal was to conform Indian Health Service standards to existing federal law. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said the language used in part of the amendment went further than existing law, and was objectionable. The vote was 52 yeas to 42 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: New Indian Health Care Funding Formula: The Senate on Feb. 26 adopted an amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvements Act (S 1200) by Sen. Gordon R. Smith, R-Ore., that modifies a provision of existing law related to the development of innovative approaches used in American Indian health care. The goal of the amendment was to require that the Indian Health Service come up with a new method to allocate federal construction assistance funds for health care facilities. Smith said without the provision, some tribes may not receive any funding. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., was among those opposing the measure, on the grounds that a new “area distribution formula” would result in harm to some tribes. Bingaman reproduced a message from the Navajo Nation opposing the provision because an existing federal formula “honors funding facilities based on quantity of services.” The vote was 56 yeas to 38 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S 1200): The Senate on Feb. 26 approved a bill that would amend the existing Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said the legislation “takes important steps to provide training and incentives to increase the number of health care professionals in Indian country, especially Native health care professionals who understand the unique conditions facing their own communities and can provide care with greater cultural awareness. It also includes much-needed provisions to address the youth suicide crisis that exists throughout Indian country by authorizing grants to deliver more counseling and suicide prevention services to tribal communities.” There was no significant opposition to the bill. The vote was 83 yeas to 10 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.