Today, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs convened to discuss four legislative bills aimed at enhancing the Indian Healthcare Service (IHS) and facilitating land transfers back to Alaska Native village corporations. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) provided her perspective on the matter:

"Improving IHS and being a champion for improving the tribal health system for all tribes has long been a goal of mine. Last July, the Subcommittee held a hearing on Congressman Johnson’s Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act in draft form. After much discussion, this subcommittee and Congressman Dusty Johnson decided to take three key elements from the larger bill and introduce them as individual bills that we think get at specific issues we can improve now. Today’s hearing was a result of this effort. The IIA subcommittee has also made a concerted effort to ensure that tribes have the ability to use their lands for economic development without unnecessary federal restrictions. The Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023 returns land that has remained in limbo for many years so that it can be used to generate revenue for Alaskan Natives."

The four bills under consideration include:

H.R. 8492, known as the Improving Tribal Cultural Training for Providers Act of 2024, introduced by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), aims to amend existing programs by mandating annual training on tribal history and culture for specific IHS employees.

H.R. 8955, titled the IHS Provider Integrity Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), requires IHS to gather historical data about any applicant from medical boards in each state where they are licensed. Additionally, IHS must submit an implementation report to Congress within 180 days post-enactment.

H.R. 8956, called the Uniform Credentials for IHS Providers Act of 2024, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), seeks to establish a centralized credentialing system for healthcare providers at IHS facilities to ensure proper credentials and licenses are maintained.

H.R. 6489, named the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), proposes returning lands currently held in trust by Alaska back to Alaska Native village corporations.