Click here to watch video of Chairman Hoeven’s opening remarks
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today convened a legislative hearing to receive testimony on five bills:
• S. 3126: the Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2019 amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize a special behavioral health program for Indians.
• S. 3264: the Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act of 2019 will expedite and streamline the deployment of affordable broadband service on tribal lands, and for other purposes.
• S. 3937: the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians Reauthorization Act of 2020 amends section 330C of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the special programs for Indians, which provides services for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
• S. 4079: A bill to authorize the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land, and for other purposes authorizes the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land.
• S. 4556: A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Indian Health Service, to acquire private land to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet, California, and for other purposes authorizes HHS to acquire land from willing sellers to construct and maintain a paved road to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center.
“Today, the Committee received testimony from the Director of the Indian Health Service and three tribal leaders on five Indian bills. These bills will continue to improve the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives, as well as expand broadband services on tribal lands and allow a Tribe to lease or transfer certain land,” said Hoeven.
The Committee received testimony from:
• THE HONORABLE REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL WEAHKEE, Director, Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
• THE HONORABLE MARCELLUS OSCEOLA, JR., Chairman, Seminole Nation of Florida, Hollywood, FL (Virtual Witness)
• THE HONORABLE TIMOTHY NUVANGYAOMA, Chairman, Hopi Tribe, Kykotsmovi, AZ (Virtual Witness)
• THE HONORABLE MICHAEL CHAVARRIA, Chairman, All Pueblo Council of Governors, Albuquerque, NM (Virtual Witness)
For witness testimony and video of the legislative hearing, click here.
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