Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) testifies in support of H.R.5406, the Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act (HEALTTH Act), at a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs on July 12, 2016. Photo from Rep. Kristi Noem
A tribally-supported bill to reform the troubled Indian Health Service is taking a step forward on Capitol Hill. The powerful House Committee on Ways and Means is set to advance the H.R.5406, the Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act (HEALTTH Act). The bill will be considered at a markup session in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday afternoon. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) introduced the HEALTTH Act in response to a series of crises in the Great Plains Area, a region that includes Nebraska and South Dakota. The bill ensures that tribes are consulted about decisions that affect their communities and it includes provisions to address employee recruitment, hiring and discipline policies. "The Indian Health Service is beyond broken," Noem said at a hearing in July. "Fixing it is literally a matter of life and death." According to documents for the markup, the committee will take up an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R.5406 before considering passage of the bill. The session takes place at 3pm Eastern in Room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building. The HEALTTH Act is awaiting action from the House Committee on Natural Resources following the hearing before the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs in July. The bill also has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. House Committee on Ways and Means Notice:
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