Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), with the support of U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Vice Chairman of SCIA, and Gary Peters (D-MI) as original co-sponsors, reintroduced S.620, the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act. The bill, which Senator Murkowski originally introduced in June 2024, authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) to provide Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations with veterinary services, including spaying and neutering of domestic animals. These services aim to help prevent and control severe and life-threatening zoonotic diseases (infections that spread between people and animals), in rural, Tribal communities. Studies show that Native children have the highest rate of dog bite injuries in the nation, and the highest rate of dog bite hospitalizations occur in rural Alaska and the Navajo Nation.
“The overpopulation of stray and abandoned dogs in Indian Country is a significant public health and safety issue,” said Chairman Murkowski. “My colleagues have been shocked to learn more than 250,0000 reservation dogs, as they’re often called, roam the Navajo Nation alone. And, according to IHS data, an average of 4,800 tribal members are hospitalized or receive outpatient care from dog bites each year. Some studies indicate that tribal areas experience a death rate from dog attacks that is 35 times higher than the rest of the nation. Even a non-fatal dog bite can transmit rabies, parasites, and other zoonotic diseases to humans and unvaccinated animals, leading to serious emotional, economic, and public health costs. I reintroduced this bill because Native children experience the highest rates of hospitalization from dog attacks than any other group in the nation, and we have an opportunity to change that. I thank my colleagues— Senator Heinrich, Schatz, and Peters – and the many advocates who recognize the importance of this legislation.”
“Communities across Indian Country are at higher risk of exposure to dangerous diseases that spread between animals and people, including rabies,” said Vice Chairman Schatz. “This bill will allow the Indian Health Service to provide critical veterinary services that lower the risk of outbreaks and improve public health.”
“Rabies outbreaks in animals are becoming more frequent across America, and Michigan’s rural and Tribal communities often lack readily available access to the veterinary care that can keep themselves and their animals protected,” said Senator Peters. “This bill would help provide important prevention services in some of the communities that need them most.”
“The Navajo Nation strongly supports this legislation, which would provide critical resources to address veterinary care shortages in tribal communities. This bill would assist the Nation in reducing rabies-related incidents stemming from dog bites and improving overall animal health, which directly impacts public safety and community well-being. We appreciate Senator Murkowski’s leadership in reintroducing this bill and recognizing the urgent need for veterinary services in rural and tribal areas,” said Dr. Buu Nygren, President of Navajo Nation.
“AFN thanks Senator Murkowski for her steadfast leadership in advancing public health through this bill. The impact of this legislation on zoonotic diseases and veterinary services will have a lasting effect on Alaska’s people and wildlife,” said Benjamin Mallott, Alaska Federation of Natives President. “We appreciate her dedication to keeping our health systems strong and responsive to emerging threats.”
“The AVMA strongly endorses the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “The proposed legislation would help provide Tribes and Tribal organizations with the essential services of a veterinarian that are key to combating and preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks and maintaining animal and public health. Using a One Health approach that integrates attention to the health of people, animals, and the environment, this bill adds the Indian Health Service as a coordinating agency in the National One Health Framework. We thank Senator Lisa Murkowski for her leadership on these issues and urge Congress to send this legislation to the President’s desk.”
“Many rural Alaska communities currently lack access to veterinary care. This not only impacts animals but also threatens the health of people. This legislation is a big step in the right direction because it will allow Tribes and Tribal Health Organizations to provide a level of veterinary care in the communities we serve. The legislation recognizes the connection between human and animal health and works to achieve the intent of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act,” said Monique Martin, Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
“The cost for medevac, food, and lodging as a result of being mauled by a feral dog by far exceeds the cost for prevention. This bill is the right thing to do for rural communities in Alaska, and I support it as a step in the right direction,” said Donald E. Charlie, former 1st Chief of the Nenana Native Association.
“I am so grateful to Senator Murkowski and Indian Affairs Committee for helping rural communities with this very important public health issue. Prevention is far healthier and less expensive than the consequences of not having it,” said Angie Fitch, Executive Director of Alaska Native Rural Veterinary, Inc.
“We are excited to see the legislation introduced by Senator Murkowski. This legislation will enhance our ability to improve the health of our region by protecting the people from rabies and other zoonotic diseases,” said Brian Lefferts, Director of Public Health, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.
“Thank you so much for your efforts to move this forward. If this bill is passed it will go a long way to solving a tremendous public health issue in rural communities. It won’t just help improve the health of the dogs in these communities, it will improve the health and well-being of the people by diminishing the threat of rabies, dog bites and the mental health impacts associated with the need to cull dogs. It addresses these problems at their root cause: dog overpopulation without access to preventive veterinary care. The approaches supported by this bill will save millions of dollars and much more importantly enhance the physical, mental and cultural health of the people living in rural communities,” said Arleigh Reynolds, Director of One Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act does the following:
Public Health Veterinary Services
- Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize IHS to provide veterinary services in areas where zoonotic diseases are endemic and the risk of transmission is elevated due to uncontrolled dog populations
- Enables Tribes to include these services in their 638 self-governance compacts with IHS
Implementation and Oversight
- Provides IHS with ability to assign or deploy veterinary officers from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to IHS service areas
- Requires coordination between IHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Mandates biennial congressional reporting on program outcomes
Program Enhancement
- Directs USDA to study wildlife oral rabies vaccine delivery in Arctic regions
- Designates IHS as a co-coordinator in the National One Health Framework
To view a copy of the bill, click here.
To view a one-page summary of the bill, click here.
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