[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 133 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, RURAL 
   DEVELOPMENT, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND 
   GENERAL GOVERNMENT, INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, 
  VETERANS AFFAIRS, TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 2021

  Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I want to commend Chair DeLauro and Chair 
Pingree for their work on this bill and the significant progress it 
makes in addressing so many issues that have impacted tribes across the 
nation, including Arizona.
  This is by far the most funding provided to tribal nations in the 
history of our country, and I appreciate your commitment to consulting 
with tribal governments as this bill was drafted
  The bill before us includes funding for staffing newly opened health 
facilities. Very near my district, the River People's Health Center, 
located on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Reservation, 
is one of these new facilities.
  I am grateful it would fully fund the Indian Health Service's (IHS) 
request for staff at the River People Health Center, and that language 
is included to ensure the facility will receive staffing funding should 
the opening date come earlier than IHS currently projects.
  However, I also understand that the Community has raised concerns 
with the IHS that the funding request does not include 11 positions 
that are in the original authorized staffing plan for the Health 
Center.
  Unfortunately, while the Community sent a letter more than two months 
ago requesting clarification and justification for this discrepancy, 
they have yet to receive a response.
  While this issue is being worked out between the Community and IHS, I 
would ask that the Committee continue to work with me to ensure the 
final bill will fully fund the authorized staffing levels and 638 
contracts for the newly-opened facilities, as agreed to in the final 
contract between the tribe and the federal government.

       Chairwoman Chellie Pingree:
       I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona for raising this 
     concern and for his consistent support for strong funding for 
     Tribal Nations. I am proud to say that our subcommittee has 
     strongly supported Tribal priorities and programs, because we 
     know that these accounts are still far underfunded and 
     oversubscribed.
       I also want to thank him for his support of the Indian 
     Health Services' River People's Health Center on the Salt 
     River Reservation. I am very pleased that this bill provides 
     the funding necessary to open this new facility and others 
     across the nation. With the pandemic still raging in many 
     parts of the Country, it is essential that we get these 
     facilities up and running as soon as possible.
       Staffing for new facilities is an issue we closely monitor. 
     We look forward to updates on negotiations between the Salt 
     River Pima Maricopa Indian Community and IHS and will work 
     with our colleagues in the Senate as the situation evolves.

  I thank Madam Chair for her support. I look forward to working with 
her and supporting the wellbeing of our Tribal communities

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