MEDIA ALERT

Issued: May 11, 2006
Contact: Adam McMullin, 202-466-7767 or amcmullin@ncai.org

Press Conference on Indian Health Care Reauthorization Act of 2006
Act Needs to be Passed in House and Senate

WHO:

• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
  Executive Director Jackie Johnson
• NCAI First Vice-President and Chickasaw Nation
  Lt Governor Jefferson Keel
• National Indian Health Board President Sally Smith
• Members of Congress (invited)

WHAT: Press Conference on Indian Health Care Reauthorization Act of 2006

WHERE: 485 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 12:00 p.m.

WHY: Infant mortality rate that is 150% greater for Indians than that of Caucasian infants and suicide for American Indians and Alaska Natives is 21/2 times greater than the national average.
American Indians and Alaska Natives are far below the national average when it comes to health care. H.R. 5312, a bill that would provide 21st Century health care for Native people, was introduced by Alaska Rep. Don Young, R-At Large, this week in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate version of the bill, S. 1057, has passed through committee. National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is urging the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to resolve differences over the language and move the bill to the floor for consideration.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Adam McMullin at the National Congress of American Indians: amcmullin@ncai.org or 202-466-7767

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of more than 250 tribal governments, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit the NCAI website.