Bipartisan Group of 52 Congressional Leaders Request Full Funding for Indian Health Service and Increased Resources for Urban Indian Health

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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:

  1. Ruben Gallego
  2. Raul M. Grijalva
  3. Dusty Johnson
  4. Sharice Davids
  5. Mary Sattler Peltola
  6. Teresa Leger Fernandez
  7. Raul Ruiz, M.D.
  8. Melanie Stansbury
  9. Gwen S. Moore
  10. Salud Carbajal
  11. Doris Matsui
  12. Shontel Brown
  13. Steven Horsford
  14. Greg Casar
  15. Grace F. Napolitano
  16. Nanette Diaz Barragan
  17. Pramila Jayapal
  18. Gabe Vasquez
  19. Katie Porter
  20. Adam Schiff
  21. Andrea Salinas
  22. Brittany Pettersen
  23. Earl Blumenauer
  24. Jared Huffman
  25. Mark Takano
  26. Jasmine Crockett
  27. Ro Khanna
  28. Jonathan L Jackson
  29. Julia Brownley
  30. Mike Levin
  31. Jimmy Panetta
  32. Ilhan Omar
  33. Lisa Blunt Rochester
  34. Jared Golden
  35. Chris Deluzio
  36. Jamaal Bowman
  37. Veronica Escobar
  38. Adam Smith
  39. Haley M. Stevens
  40. Cori Bush
  41. Val Hoyle
  42. Zoe Lofgren
  43. Jahana Hayes
  44. Steve Cohen
  45. Andre Carson
  46. Diana DeGette
  47. Kim Schrier
  48. Greg Stanton
  49. Jared Moskowitz
  50. Stephen F. Lynch
  51. Darren Soto
  52. Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia