Warner & Kaine Announce Funding for Virginia Tribes to Expand Access to Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $417,983 in federal funding for Virginia tribes to expand access to diabetes treatment and prevention services. This funding was awarded through the Indian Health Services’ (IHS) Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). These Virginia tribes haven’t previously received federal funding through SDPI, and legislation championed by Kaine and Warner to federally recognize six Virginia tribes made it possible for them to receive this funding.

“This program is important to help our nation’s tribes access the health care they need,” said the senators. “We’re glad Virginia’s tribes are receiving this support to help treat and prevent diabetes in their communities.”   

The funding will be distributed as follows:

• $180,550 for Mid-Atlantic Service Unit in Richmond, which serves the Pamunkey Tribe, the Chickahominy Tribe, the Chickahominy Tribe Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe Inc., the Monacan Nation, and the Nansemond Tribe
• $102,659 for the Monacan Nation in Madison Heights
• $84,984 for the Chickahominy Tribe in Providence Forge
• $49, 790 for the Upper Mattaponi Tribe in King William

In 2017, Warner and Kaine led legislation to grant federal recognition to six Virginia tribes—including the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan, and Nansemond. After many years of these tribes being denied federal recognition, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act was signed into law in January 2018.

Since 1997, the SDPI has helped dramatically increase access to important diabetes treatment and prevention services. It continues to be a critical factor in the improvements seen in diabetes-related health issues in American Indian and Alaska Native people, including reductions by at least one-half in the rates of new cases of diabetes-related kidney failure and eye disease.

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