To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award additional funding through the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program of the Indian Health Service, and for other purposes.

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1939 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award additional funding through the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program of the Indian Health Service, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 16, 2021 Mr. O’HALLERAN (for himself and Mr. YOUNG) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi- tion to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be sub- sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award additional funding through the Sanitation Fa- cilities Construction Program of the Indian Health Serv- ice, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE SANITATION FACILI- 3 TIES CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FUNDING. 4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:00 May 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1939.IH H1939 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1939 IH (1) the COVID–19 crisis has highlighted the 1 lack of infrastructure and sanitation available in Na- 2 tive communities; and 3 (2) addressing the Sanitation Facilities Defi- 4 ciency List of the Division of Sanitation Facilities 5 and Construction of the Indian Health Service in- 6 cluded in the report will— 7 (A) result in investments in necessary 8 water infrastructure; and 9 (B) improve health outcomes. 10 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 11 (1) REPORT.—The term ‘‘report’’ means the 12 fiscal year 2019 report of the Division of Sanitation 13 Facilities and Construction of the Indian Health 14 Service entitled ‘‘Annual Report to the Congress of 15 the United States on Sanitation Deficiency Levels 16 for Indian Homes and Communities’’. 17 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 18 the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 19 through the Director of the Indian Health Service. 20 (c) ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SANITATION FACILI- 21 TIES.— 22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 23 additional funding under the Sanitation Facilities 24 Construction Program for the planning, design, con- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:00 May 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1939.IH H1939 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1939 IH struction, modernization, improvement, and renova- 1 tion of water, sewer, and solid waste sanitation fa- 2 cilities that are funded, in whole or part, by the In- 3 dian Health Service through, or provided for in, a 4 contract or compact with the Indian Health Service 5 under the Indian Self-Determination and Education 6 Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 7 (2) PRIORITY FOR FUNDING.—In awarding 8 funding to sanitation facilities under paragraph (1), 9 the Secretary shall prioritize sanitation facilities 10 with the highest deficiency level, as established in 11 the report. 12 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 13 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 14 appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this sec- 15 tion $2,600,000,000. 16 (2) REQUIREMENT.—Amounts made available 17 under paragraph (1) shall be in addition to any 18 amounts made available to carry out the purposes 19 described in subsection (c)(1) under any other provi- 20 sion of law. 21 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:00 May 12, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1939.IH H1939 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS