[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4283 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4283
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the public health
system in tribal communities and increase the number of American
Indians and Alaska Natives pursuing health careers, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 30, 2021
Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Mr. Pallone) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the public health
system in tribal communities and increase the number of American
Indians and Alaska Natives pursuing health careers, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Native Health and Wellness Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. TRIBAL HEALTH BLOCK GRANT.
Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 317U of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) the following new
section:
``SEC. 317V. TRIBAL HEALTH BLOCK GRANT.
``(a) In General.--To the extent and in the amounts made available
in advance by appropriations, the Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award
a grant, in an amount determined pursuant to the formula developed
under subsection (e), to each eligible Indian tribe or tribal
organization for the purposes of promoting health, preventing disease,
and reducing health disparities among American Indians and Alaska
Natives.
``(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall carry out this section,
including the development of the formula required by subsection (e), in
consultation with eligible Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this section
for a fiscal year, an Indian tribe or tribal organization shall submit
to the Secretary a plan at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Each grantee under this section shall use the
grant funds--
``(1) to establish or support preventive health service
programs that facilitate the achievement of health-status
goals;
``(2) to establish or support public health services that
reduce the prevalence of chronic disease among American Indians
and Alaska Natives; or
``(3) to strengthen public health infrastructure to
facilitate the surveillance and response to infectious disease
and foodborne illness outbreaks.
``(e) Formula.--The Secretary shall develop a formula to be used in
allocating the total amount of funds made available to carry out this
section for a fiscal year among the eligible Indian tribes and tribal
organizations.
``(f) Reports.--Each grantee under this section shall submit
reports at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section, the terms `Indian tribe' and
`tribal organization' have the meanings given to such terms in section
4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $56,700,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026.''.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO RECRUIT AND MENTOR AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS.
Subpart 3 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 295f et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following
new section:
``SEC. 779. RECRUITMENT AND MENTORING OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to Indian tribes
and tribal organizations for the purpose of recruiting and mentoring
American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults in health
professions.
``(b) Use of Funds.--An Indian tribe or tribal organization
receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds--
``(1) to expose American Indian and Alaska Native
adolescent youth or young adults to health professions;
``(2) to promote science education;
``(3) to establish mentoring relationships between--
``(A) American Indian and Alaska Native youth or
young adults; and
``(B) health professionals;
``(4) to provide hands-on learning experiences in a health
care setting;
``(5) to establish partnerships with institutions of higher
education (including tribal colleges), local educational
agencies, and other community-based entities to develop a
larger and more competitive applicant pool for health
professional careers; or
``(6) to provide counseling, mentoring, and other services
designed to assist American Indian and Alaska Native youth or
young adults in the pursuit of higher education with respect to
health professions.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Health profession.--The term `health profession' has
the meaning given to the term `Health profession' in section 4
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the
meaning given to such term in section 4 of the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
``(3) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization'
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026.''.
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