Health

Indian Country, including the citizens of USET SPF Tribal Nations, suffers from lower health status and lower health outcomes than the rest of the United States. As long as the Indian Health Service (IHS) is drastically underfunded, this reality will remain. As the federal government fails to uphold the trust responsibility to provide health care, USET SPF has continued to advocate for the full funding of IHS, the reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, and the expansion of self-governance, as well as innovative ways to stabilize and extend funding. In addition, USET SPF is working to ensure any health-related and other research directed at Tribal communities and citizens is conducted in a way that recognizes Tribal sovereignty and protects Tribal data. While USET SPF recognizes the importance of scientific discovery and advancement, we stress that the federal government must work to prevent ethical violations against our communities and our people.