Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3841, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act. The bill would reaffirm Tribal public health authorities are entitled to access public health data.

“Our sovereign Tribal Nations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers were always supposed to have equal access to public health data that states, counties, and cities have. But for years, many Tribes have faced numerous challenges while trying to access this public health data,” Mullin said. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of equal access to this data in order for Tribes to make decisions for their communities, and the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act makes that happen. I am glad this bill passed the full House today and I encourage the Senate to take it up quickly, so Tribes don’t have to wait any longer for the data they need.”