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This Blog includes news and announcements pertaining to the Urban Indian community across the nation.
Washington, DC (March 27, 2020) – Today, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the third phase of legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act passed the House of Representatives today and cleared the Senate earlier this week. The bill provides $1.032 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in critically needed resources to support the Indian Health System during the pandemic, including expanded support for medical services, equipment, supplies and public health education for IHS direct service, tribally operated and Urban Indian Organizations; expanded funding for purchased/referred care; and new investments for telehealth services, electronic health records improvement, and expanded disease surveillance by tribal epidemiology centers.
Washington, DC (March 25, 2020) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) announces the election of the new members to its Board of Directors. The election took place during the 2020 Annual Virtual Meeting on March 25, 2020.
Washington, DC (March 20, 2020) - On March 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced action to disburse of $8 million for urban Indian health for emergency response to COVID-19 as part of the first emergency supplemental appropriations bill (P.L. 116-123) that was enacted on March 6, 2020.
Washington, DC (March 18, 2020) - On March 17, 2020, the Congressional Native American Caucus sent a letter to the House Committee on Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey and Ranking Member Kay Granger urging the inclusion of tribal priorities in the third supplemental coronavirus package.
Washington, DC (March 17, 2020) – To date, urban Indian organizations (UIOs) across the country have yet to receive any federal funding from the $8.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, despite having been specifically listed in the legislation. UIOs already have an immediate funding need for services and supplies to combat the pandemic, and as the urgency, infection rate, and death toll intensifies, UIOs will need more funding resources to protect and preserve human life.
Washington, DC (March 11, 2020) – Today, H.R. 4153 – Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act was considered and ordered to be reported by the House Natural Resources Committee during a legislative markup. H.R. 4153, introduced by Representative Ro Khanna, has bipartisan support with 27 cosponsors including 16 Democrats and 11 Republicans.
Washington, DC (March 12, 2020) – On March 12, 2020, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) Board of Directors announces the cancellation of the in-person 2020 Conference: New Opportunities in Urban Indian Health from March 24 – 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. The cancellation also applies to pre- and post- conference trainings, with the exception of the events below. There will be a free short virtual Annual Meeting on the same day the conference would have taken place, March 25th as well as the elections for the 2020-2022 NCUIH Board.
We need your help contacting Congress to support Urban Indian Organizations!
Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) are leading a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
“The U.S. government cannot allow (urban Indian organization) patients to die during a COVID-19 outbreak due to unavailability of critical services. UIOs operate on such low funding margins that interruptions in daily operations … have dire effects and have been forced to close entirely.”
Washington, DC (March 4, 2020) - Today, Congress announced they have reached an $8.3 billion agreement for emergency supplemental appropriations to combat Coronavirus. The bill includes CDC funds totaling $2.2 billion which includes funding for cooperative agreements for “tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes, to carry out surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control mitigation, communications, and other preparedness and response activities.” The bill also included $40 million for tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes through the CDC.