Yvette Roubideaux, the recently confirmed director of the Indian Health Service, announced $500 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"President Obama is committed to improving health in Indian Country," Roubideaux said on a conference call today. "It isn't just talk, he's taking action."

Roubideaux said the administration will provide $227 million for health facilities construction, $100 million for maintenance and improvements, $85 million for health information technology, $68 million for sanitation facilities construction, and $20 million for health equipment that will help improve health care in Indian Country.

"We know that we have tremendous unmet needs in Indian Country and these funds won't solve all of our problems but they will move us in the right direction," said Roubideaux, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

According to the IHS, the money will complete two hospitals -- one on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and another in Nome, Alaska. The funds will be used for 169 sanitation facilities projects in 24 states, 302 maintenance and improvement projects and to purchase over 200 pieces of medical equipment.

Roubideaux, who was confirmed by the Senate last week, declined to answer questions about new policies she will be implementing at the IHS.

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