Ranking Member Pingree Remarks at the Fiscal Year 2026 Indian Health Service Budget Hearing

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the subcommittee's fiscal year 2026 Indian Health Service budget hearing:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Acting Director Smith and Director Curtis, thank you for being with us today to discuss the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Indian Health Service.

The Indian Health Service operates as the 18th largest health care system in the nation and provides health care to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives through a network of over 600 hospitals, clinics, and health stations on or near Indian reservations. With 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives currently living in urban areas, the IHS funds 41 health care organizations in urban centers.

IHS relies on an annual discretionary appropriation for its funding, and, despite this subcommittee’s bipartisan efforts, this funding has not kept pace with need. 

The statistics on health disparities in Indian Country are far worse than other populations in America. In order to make progress in addressing these disparities, we must invest more in health care. 

So, I strongly oppose the reductions proposed in the Indian Health Service budget. This includes the proposed 87 percent reduction to Sanitation Facilities Construction. This proposed cut is out of touch with the reality that there is over a billion-dollar backlog for sanitation facilities.

I am also alarmed that the administration has proposed to terminate advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service.

This subcommittee has been dedicated to finding solutions for addressing the healthcare needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The inclusion of advance appropriations was a major step forward, and I will do everything I can to advocate for its continuation. 

I also want to take a moment to speak more broadly about how deeply troubled I am by this Administration’s assault on health care in the United States and the dismantling of programs and research that Tribal nations rely on to ensure the well-being of their communities. 

NIH, CDC, FDA – there is a nexus between these agencies and Indian health, and Tribal communities are suffering the consequences of the havoc inflicted by this Administration on the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Not to mention, the devastating impact that an $800 billion cut to Medicaid would have both on tribal members – since 2.7 million American Indians and Alaska Natives are enrolled, including 49 percent of children – and IHS facilities that rely on third party reimbursements, your fiscal year 2026 budget request assumes collections of $1.3 billion from Medicaid.

Acting Director Smith and Director Curtis, thank you again for being here today and thank you for your dedication to the IHS mission.

I look forward to discussing the request and know under the leadership of Chairman Simpson this Subcommittee will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to honor the United States’ treaty responsibilities to tribal nations. 

I yield back.

###