April 18, 2023

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) is currently slated to expire on September 30, 2023 if Congress does not take action to reauthorize the program. The SDPI is a vital program with a demonstrated record of success in decreasing diabetes prevalence in Indian Country. 

Despite the ongoing success of the program, the SDPI has been flat funded at $150 million annually since 2004. This means that despite increases in costs and inflation rates, and the addition of new grantees, the SDPI has not been granted a funding increase in nearly 20 years. In order to continue making progress in the fight against diabetes, it is critical that the program is not only reauthorized, but that it receives increased funding. The President’s FY 2024 Budget Request includes a legislative proposal to reauthorize the SDPI for three years, including a $250 million appropriation in FY 2024, $260 million in FY 2025, and $270 million in FY 2026.

There are efforts in Congress to gather support for reauthorizing the SDPI and increasing the program’s resources. ”Dear Colleague” Congressional sign-on letters supporting the program’s reauthorization are currently being circulated within the House and Senate. To identify your Members of Congress and their contact information, please click here for House members and here for Senators. USET SPF encourages member Tribal Nations to contact your Members of Congress and request that they sign on. 

In addition, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) recently introduced H.R. 2547, legislation that would reauthorize the program for a period of 5 years. However, the bill does not include the increased funding level proposed in the President’s Budget Request and supported by Tribal Nations. On April 19, 2023, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 am on H.R. 2547 and several other healthcare-focused bills. USET SPF and others have also consistently supported the expansion of Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) authorities to the program, and intend to continue to focus on this critical change. USET SPF will continue to update our members on these reauthorization efforts. 

For more information, please contact Ashton Martin, USET SPF Health Policy Analyst, at amartin@usetinc.org. 

Established in 2014, the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization advocating on behalf of thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues.