(a) Findings.—Congress finds that—

(1) human, animal, and environmental health are interdependent in Native communities, Alaska Native villages, and on Indian reservations, and holistic approaches to the well-being of all individuals will lead to improved health outcomes and enhanced resilience;

(2) uncontrolled animal populations and a lack of veterinary care in Native communities, Alaska Native villages, and on Indian reservations increase the risk of parasites and zoonotic diseases, dog bites, food insecurity, and mental health issues among Alaska Natives and American Indians;

(3) dog bites and other injuries are common in rural areas in the State of Alaska, with the Norton Sound Health Corporation reporting an average of 87 bites per year in the Bering Strait region between 2016 and 2023, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation reporting an average of 98 bites per year in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region between 2008 and 2017;

(4) Alaska Native children have the highest incidence of hospitalization for dog bites in the Indian Health Service system;

(5) in 2021, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, experienced co-occurring outbreaks of rabies and canine distemper;

(6) canine distemper is almost 100 percent fatal in marine mammals, which the people of the Native Villages of Savoonga and Gambell rely on heavily as a food source;

(7) rabies is enzootic in arctic and red fox populations in the northern and western coastal regions of the State of Alaska;

(8) wildlife outbreaks occur cyclically, and there have been increased human exposures to rabid animals between 2020 and 2023;

(9) rabies transmission is a significant threat in Alaska Native communities and villages; and

(10) as of 2024, the Indian Health Service does not employ or use public health veterinarians to combat zoonotic disease outbreaks or to generally advance public health preparedness for Native communities, Alaska Native villages, or Indian reservations, including by providing spay and neuter services and vaccinations for animals.

(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services is uniquely suited to empower Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to address zoonotic disease threats in the communities they serve by providing public health veterinary services through a One Health approach that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.