Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Determination

The courts and Congress have long acknowledged a trust relationship between the federal government and American Indian tribes. Unfortunately, the federal government's trust responsibility has not always been upheld as it should. Though today's tribes face many challenges, from providing basic infrastructure and services to accessing adequate health care and ensuring personal safety, there are many opportunities for cooperation to improve the quality of life for tribal members on and off reservations. I believe that through a strong government-to-government relationship, the federal government can uphold its trust responsibility.

Indian Health: Addressing Disparities and Acute Need for Care in Indian Country

Throughout my time in Congress, I have strongly supported improving Indian health care, not only as a trust responsibility of the federal government, but also to address the large health disparities and service gaps many American Indians experience.

These gaps negatively affect Indian patients, who often aren't referred to doctors unless their medical conditions threaten "life or limb," which means that non-life-threatening medical needs like knee replacements or routine care for diabetes often go untreated. To help address these issues, I supported the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 (S.1790) as an original co-sponsor. I also co-sponsored this legislation as an amendment to the health insurance reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Amdt.2923 to H.R.3590). The legislation authorizes much-needed improvements to health services and facilities, expands access to other federal health programs and works to improve behavioral and urban Indian health. I am pleased that the permanent reauthorization of this legislation will mean greater access to health resources to address the important needs in Indian Country.

I also co-sponsored the Special Diabetes Program (S.3058), which would reauthorize critical funding for the Type I diabetes and American Indian programs. Eradicating this debilitating disease, which affects a disproportionate number of American Indians and leads to secondary health issues, would greatly improve quality of life for many American Indians.

Tribal Law and Order

Tribes across the United States face some of the highest crime rates in the nation, from two to 20 times the national average. Many of these crimes go unprosecuted by federal officials, leaving tribes unable to properly address the perpetrators due to lack of resources and legal barriers. As a co-sponsor of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (S.797), I supported more tribal control over criminal matters and more accountability within the federal government to address crimes committed on reservations. Fortunately, this bipartisan legislation was passed by unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate and, after passing in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act into law on February 29, 2010. This was a breakthrough for Native Americans who have been crime victims but haven't been able to see justice served.

Providing greater opportunities for tribal self-government will allow more effective response to communities' needs and foster more. The law specifically targets domestic and sexual violence, 75 percent of which goes unprosecuted in Indian Country. Providing a safer community for American Indian women is an important part of ensuring a healthy environment for families and children to flourish. Supporting tribal law enforcement is not just a federal trust responsibility, it is important for fighting crime in surrounding states and non-tribal communities as well.

Agriculture Issues in Indian Country

Agriculture forms the economic backbone for much of Colorado. And irrigation is critical to agriculture. Yet the Pine, or Los Pinos, River irrigation system in Southwest Colorado has deteriorated to an almost-unusable state. Southern Ute tribal members who wish to bring idle land back into agricultural production and continue as good stewards of the land are held back by the uncertainty of aged infrastructure. Further reticence to upgrade and maintain this key infrastructure endangers all communities in the area and especially hampers the Southern Ute tribe's efforts to preserve their culture and livelihood. My legislation - the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project Act (S.1264) - will restore and improve the irrigation systems to more than 13,000 acres which serve tribal and non-tribal members within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Reservation. This will give tribal members an equal chance to reap the benefits of the land, which will create jobs, strengthen the economy and provide greater cultural and economic opportunities. I look forward to working with members of both parties to pass the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project Act into law.