Bipartisan Group of 52 Congressional Leaders Request Full Funding for Indian Health Service and Increased Resources for Urban Indian Health
On May 1, 2024, 50 Congressional leaders joined Representatives Gallego and Grijalva in their letter to Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree of the House Interior Appropriations Committee requesting up to $53.85 billion for the Indian Health Service and $965.3 million for Urban Indian Health in FY25 and maintaining advance appropriations for IHS until authorizers move IHS to mandatory funding. The letter emphasizes that the federal government has a trust responsibility to provide federal health services to maintain and improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Natives.
The bipartisan group of 52 Congressional leaders reiterated their support for the Appropriations Committee’s work on the historic inclusion of advance appropriations in the FY23 and FY24 omnibus. Previously, IHS was the only federal health care provider funded through annual appropriations. Without advance appropriations, IHS is subject to the negative impacts of government shutdowns and continuing resolutions that can lead to serious disruptions in UIO’s ability to provide critical patient services. The inclusion of advance appropriations is a crucial step toward ensuring long-term stable funding for IHS.
This letter sends a powerful message to Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree, and members of Congress that in order to fulfill the federal government’s trust responsibility to all Natives to provide safe and quality healthcare, funding for the Indian Health Service must be significantly increased.
NCUIH is grateful for the support of the following Representatives:
- Ruben Gallego
- Raul M. Grijalva
- Dusty Johnson
- Sharice Davids
- Mary Sattler Peltola
- Teresa Leger Fernandez
- Raul Ruiz, M.D.
- Melanie Stansbury
- Gwen S. Moore
- Salud Carbajal
- Doris Matsui
- Shontel Brown
- Steven Horsford
- Greg Casar
- Grace F. Napolitano
- Nanette Diaz Barragan
- Pramila Jayapal
- Gabe Vasquez
- Katie Porter
- Adam Schiff
- Andrea Salinas
- Brittany Pettersen
- Earl Blumenauer
- Jared Huffman
- Mark Takano
- Jasmine Crockett
- Ro Khanna
- Jonathan L Jackson
- Julia Brownley
- Mike Levin
- Jimmy Panetta
- Ilhan Omar
- Lisa Blunt Rochester
- Jared Golden
- Chris Deluzio
- Jamaal Bowman
- Veronica Escobar
- Adam Smith
- Haley M. Stevens
- Cori Bush
- Val Hoyle
- Zoe Lofgren
- Jahana Hayes
- Steve Cohen
- Andre Carson
- Diana DeGette
- Kim Schrier
- Greg Stanton
- Jared Moskowitz
- Stephen F. Lynch
- Darren Soto
- Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia
