Underwood Introduces New Legislation to Support Tribal Nations Amid Climate Crisis

Washington, D.C. – This month, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced the Tribal Climate Health Assurance Act, legislation designed to strengthen the Climate Ready Tribes Initiative, a program led by the National Indian Health Board and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Tribal Climate Health Assurance Actwould permanently codify the core functions of the program and authorize increased funding for its work to protect Tribal Nations across the country.

The Climate Ready Tribes Initiative has historically been the only federal program assisting tribal governments in identifying, assessing, and taking action to mitigate climate-related health threats.

“Climate change is a public health crisis, and Indigenous communities across the country should have access to every available tool to help them mitigate its risks. Strengthening the Climate Ready Tribes Initiative is an essential part of our climate strategy,” said Underwood. “The Tribal Climate Health Assurance Act will support this critical program, recognizing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities and providing the tools and resources they need to safeguard the health and well-being of future generations.”

TheTribal Climate Health Assurance Act would:

• Secure sustained funding: Guarantee a steady appropriation for the Climate Ready Tribes Initiative, ensuring ongoing support for tribal adaptation efforts and addressing technical needs.
• Translate climate science into actionable information: Ensure tribal governments, health departments, and communities have the resources they need to understand the specific climate threats they face.
• Empower decision-making: Develop decision-support tools that build capacity for climate preparedness, providing relevant materials, resources, and information about funding opportunities.

CDC’s Climate Ready Tribes Initiative plays a critical role in addressing public health issues that stem from climate change and provides indigenous communities the resources they need to identify and address emerging health threats brought on by climate change.

The Tribal Climate Health Assurance Act is a companion to Underwood’s Climate Health Protection Act and ensures that we are addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities fighting the climate crisis. The Climate Health Protection Act would:

• Amend the Public Health Service Act to explicitly authorize the Climate and Health Program.
• Support the program’s core functions by:
  • Providing State, local, and tribal communities with understandable and informative data on climate change science;
  • Providing resources to create tools that will help in addressing climate change
  • Supporting health departments and communities as they plan and lead in addressing the public health impacts of climate change.
• Authorize $110 million in annual appropriations to complete the Program's essential work and prohibit transferring or reprogramming these funds.

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