Congress urged to address $1B IHS facility maintenance and BIE school construction backlog

The ongoing challenges facing healthcare and education facilities for American Indian and Alaska Native communities were front and center during the recent U.S. House Committee on Appropriations meeting. A significant point of discussion was the staggering $1 billion deferred maintenance backlog within the Indian Health Service (IHS), highlighting urgent needs for infrastructure improvements.

One of the most pressing examples cited was the 60-year-old hospital in Salz, Arizona, which has been on the IHS facilities construction list for over three decades. Currently, this facility can only manage minor medical issues, underscoring the critical need for Congress to allocate more funding to address these long-standing infrastructure challenges. The meeting also referenced the Phoenix Indian Medical Center, which was forced to close its labor and delivery services in August 2020 due to aging infrastructure and inadequate equipment. These essential services have yet to resume, raising concerns about the fulfillment of the federal trust obligation to provide adequate healthcare to Native Americans.

In addition to healthcare, the discussion extended to the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) facilities, where the need for construction funding is equally urgent. The BIE has identified two schools in particularly poor condition, including the Santa Rosa Ranch School, which closed in February 2018 due to significant issues and has yet to be replaced. The Santa Rosa Day School is also on the BIE's replacement list but is not expected to receive full funding until 2028. The poor conditions of BIE schools have been documented for decades, indicating a systemic issue that requires immediate attention.

The meeting underscored the necessity for Congress to take decisive action to improve healthcare and educational facilities for Native communities. As these discussions continue, the hope is that increased funding will lead to timely improvements, ensuring that residents receive the quality services they deserve.