Action Alert: Special Diabetes Program for Indians Expires in 16 Days

Dear Indian Health Advocates,

We need your help contacting Congress to support the reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI)! With the program ending in 16 days, it remains critical that Congress reauthorizes SDPI to ensure there is no lapse in funding.

For 25 years, SDPI has supported research-based interventions for diabetes prevention and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction in American Indian and Alaska Native community-based programs and healthcare settings. SDPI’s integrated approach to diabetes healthcare and prevention programs in Indian Country has become a resounding success and is one of the most successful public health programs ever implemented.
Currently, 31 urban Indian organizations (UIOs) receive SDPI funding that enables UIOs to provide necessary services that reduce the incidence of diabetes-related illness among urban Indian communities.
The National Indian Health Board and 16 advocates, including NCUIH, have sent a letter urging Congressional leadership to bring the current legislation, H.R. 3561 and S.1855, to the floor for a vote and ultimately reauthorize SDPI by September 30, 2023.

To ensure that SDPI receives as much support as possible, we encourage you to contact your Member of Congress and request that they vote to support the bills by September 30, 2023. Please find a template email below with instructions.

Thank you for your leadership. Your outreach on this is invaluable to providing greater health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Sincerely,

The National Council of Urban Indian Health

Contact Congress Today

Step 1: Copy the email below.
Step 2: Find your Member of Congress here
Step 3: Paste the email into the form and send it.

Please contact Jeremy Grabiner (jgrabiner@ncuih.org) with questions.

Email to Your Members of Congress

Dear [Member of Congress],

As an Indian health advocate, I respectfully request you urge Congressional leadership to bring the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Reauthorization Act of 2023 to the floor for a vote and ultimately reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) by September 30, 2023.

For 25 years, SDPI has supported research-based interventions for diabetes prevention and cardiovascular disease risk reduction in American Indian and Alaska Native community-based programs and healthcare settings. SDPI’s integrated approach to diabetes healthcare and prevention programs in Indian Country has become a resounding success and is one of the most successful public health programs ever implemented.

With the program set to end in September 2023, it remains critical that Congress reauthorizes SDPI to ensure there is no lapse in funding.

I respectfully ask that you honor the federal trust obligation to American Indians and Alaska Natives by supporting this effective public health program.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to upholding the United States’ trust responsibility.
Sincerely,

[Contact Information]

Raise your voice on Social Media!

X (formerly Twitter)

From your X account, contact your Member of Congress.

Find your Member of Congress here.

Example tweet:

Dear [@Member’s handle], please urge Congressional leadership to bring the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Reauthorization Act of 2023 to the floor for a vote to protect the Special Diabetes Program for Indians! #SDPI

NCUIH Contact: Meredith Raimondi, VP of Policy and Communications, mraimondi@ncuih.org

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