CAMPBELL WELCOMES MURKOWSKI, SMITH TO INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Washington - Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, last week announced the completed roster
of the Committee on Indian Affairs for the 108th Congress and welcomed Senator
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) to the Committee's
ranks.
"I am excited to have high-caliber Senators like Lisa Murkowski and Gordon
Smith join the Indian Affairs Committee and look forward to working with them
on the issues that we need to address like Indian health care, job creation,
and accountability from the Federal Indian agencies", said Campbell, the lone
American Indian in the Senate.
With the election of a Republican Senate majority last November, Campbell
regains the chairmanship of the Committee on Indian Affairs, a post he held
from 1997 through June, 2001.
"There are many important issues facing Native Americans today, such as access
to affordable health care and creating economic opportunities for their
communities," said Smith. "As a member of the Committee, I will work very
hard to ensure that their voices are heard."
"Given the important needs of Alaska Natives, I look forward to working with
Senator Campbell to find real solutions to the pressing problems of economic
development, infrastructure and health care that face them", said Senator
Lisa Murkowski.
Murkowski and Smith join fellow Republican members Campbell, McCain, Domenici,
Thomas, Hatch, and Inhofe; and Democrat members Inouye, Conrad, Reid, Akaka,
Dorgan, Johnson, and Cantwell.
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CONTACT: Paul Moorehead 202-224-2251
January 17, 2003