Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3841, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021, introduced by my Energy and Commerce colleagues, Representatives Mullin and O'Halleran.

This important public health bill addresses the chronic challenges faced by Tribal Nations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers in gaining access to critical healthcare and public health surveillance data.

Obtaining this data is necessary for engaging in preventative public health work and combating the current health crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Structural barriers to accessing data have been especially problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted these communities. In order to ensure that Tribal Nations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers have access to the data necessary to accomplish public health priorities, the bill requires that the Secretary of HHS create a data-sharing strategy that takes into consideration the recommendations of the Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee.

In addition, in reauthorizing the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, the bill requires the Secretary to make public health surveillance data available to the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, the Tribal organizations, and Tribal Epidemiology Centers so long as the data requested for use is consistent with Federal law and obligations.

The Secretary must also consult with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and the Tribal Technical Advisory Group of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop guidelines for State and local health agencies to improve the quality and accuracy of birth and death records of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

It makes a lot of sense. By improving the sharing of data between the Federal Government and the Tribes, this important bill would help address the health disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this particular bill. Let's pass this bill swiftly and get it to the Senate.

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