Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 144 authorizes the Indian Health Service, or IHS, to purchase land in Hemet, California, for the purpose of constructing a paved road that facilitates access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center. IHS will then maintain the road or enter into an agreement with Riverside County, California, to maintain the road. This critical legislation will expand healthcare access to American Indian and Alaska Native youth in California by ensuring that the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center can be reached by safe roadways. Prior to 2016, indigenous youth in California experiencing substance use disorders were forced to travel to out-of-State facilities in order to receive care. Recognizing this added barrier to quality care, IHS built the Desert Sage Wellness Center in Hemet, California. The center is notable for providing culturally sensitive treatment to indigenous youth battling substance use disorders and can hold up to 32 patients at a time. Unfortunately, during the center's construction, IHS was unable to reach an agreement with adjacent property holders on the pavement and maintenance of an access road to the facility. As a result, the center is currently accessible only by a dirt road that is often washed out from heavy rainfall or in a general state of disrepair.…”