Sign the petition to Congress: Pass the CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act
On March 31, Democratic members of Congress introduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act. The act would ensure that Tribal Nations have equal access to CDC funding to prepare for public health emergencies. The bill has support from the National Indian Health Board, the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Council of Urban Indian Health.
Tribal Nations are unable to apply for the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement program. State and local public health departments have relied heavily on this program during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Tribal Nations are excluded from accessing these funds. Excluding Tribal Nations from this program has led to their inability to receive additional funds for staffing, planning, training, and supplies.
This unequal access to funds is even more jarring when you consider that tribes have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. As an example, the Navajo Nation (the most populous American Indian reservation) confirmed more COVID-19 cases per capita than any state for some time. Tribal communities have suffered medically and economically from the pandemic, having had to close major businesses. Additionally, an estimated 40% of homes in the Navajo Nation are without running water, which makes essential hygiene practices even more challenging during a pandemic.
Co-sponsor of the bill Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “The federal government unjustly excluded Tribal Nations from public health prevention and mitigation resources that could have helped Indian Country prepare for the disproportionately devastating effects of the pandemic. Our bill would ensure tribal nations have equal access to the CDC PHEP program funding for future public health emergencies.” There is no just reason why the U.S. government should be restricting these funds from tribal nations.
Sign the petition to Congress: Pass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act.
Participating Organizations
Blue Amp Action
Civic Shout
Crazy Eight PAC
Daily Kos
DemCast USA
Progressive Reform Network
R2H Action [Right to Health]
The Six PAC
Tribal Nations are unable to apply for the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement program. State and local public health departments have relied heavily on this program during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Tribal Nations are excluded from accessing these funds. Excluding Tribal Nations from this program has led to their inability to receive additional funds for staffing, planning, training, and supplies.
This unequal access to funds is even more jarring when you consider that tribes have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. As an example, the Navajo Nation (the most populous American Indian reservation) confirmed more COVID-19 cases per capita than any state for some time. Tribal communities have suffered medically and economically from the pandemic, having had to close major businesses. Additionally, an estimated 40% of homes in the Navajo Nation are without running water, which makes essential hygiene practices even more challenging during a pandemic.
Co-sponsor of the bill Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “The federal government unjustly excluded Tribal Nations from public health prevention and mitigation resources that could have helped Indian Country prepare for the disproportionately devastating effects of the pandemic. Our bill would ensure tribal nations have equal access to the CDC PHEP program funding for future public health emergencies.” There is no just reason why the U.S. government should be restricting these funds from tribal nations.
Sign the petition to Congress: Pass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act.
Participating Organizations
Blue Amp Action
Civic Shout
Crazy Eight PAC
Daily Kos
DemCast USA
Progressive Reform Network
R2H Action [Right to Health]
The Six PAC
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