The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.5221, the Urban Indian Health Confer Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to require all agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services to “confer, to the maximum extent practicable, with urban Indian organizations.” Currently, only the Indian Health Service has a formal policy to confer with urban Indian providers.

Following consideration of the bill, a Republican member of the House requested a recorded vote on H.R.5221. As a result, further proceedings were postponed.

However, it is expected that the measure will pass as soon as November 2, according to the Majority Leader, or sometime during the week.

November 1 marks the start of National Native American Heritage Month and the U.S. House of Representatives is getting to business with a slew of Indian Country bills. #House #117th #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth https://t.co/lpME9BkwRK

— indianz.com (@indianz) November 1, 2021

Indian Country bills set for passage in U.S. House of Representatives (November 1, 2021)