Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. LUJAN. Madam Speaker, during this COVID-19 pandemic, which has already killed more than 200,000 Americans, it is crucial that the CDC and State health departments are sharing essential, lifesaving public health data from Tribal epidemiology centers to protect the health of the people they serve.

TECs, like any State or local health department, are legally entitled to access to the same data, but for the first months of the public health emergency, this data was withheld, despite the urging of Tribal leaders, myself, and fellow members of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

This data, including information on COVID-19 testing, positive case numbers, contact tracing, and more, is essential for Tribes and TECs to protect the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

That is why Representative Gianforte and I introduced the bipartisan Tribal Health Data Improvement Act with the support of the National Indian Health Board. While the CDC Director has fulfilled the commitment he made to me to share COVID-related data with all the TECs, there are still barriers to accessing other important data sets that are crucial to protecting the public health during and after this pandemic.

This important legislation makes it clear that the Department of Health and Human Services and State health departments are required to share data with Tribal health authorities, and it includes additional funding to make this happen.

This legislation is about justice and living up to the Federal Government's legal responsibility. It would help save lives as we continue working to defeat this virus. Tribes and TECs are working hard to protect public health in their communities, and it is their right to access the CDC data to do so.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to seeing the House pass this legislation, and I will urge my colleagues in the Senate to act with the same urgency.

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