Last weekend, I welcomed members of the House Committee on Ways & Means to my stomping grounds— #AZ01.

We had difficult but incredibly important conversations about the lack of access to health care that our tribal and native communities face. Some of the most detrimental challenges mentioned regarded navigating the child welfare system through the Indian Child Welfare Act, fixing the shortage of doctors and other medical personnel, and continuing medical research and development.

As a father of two beautiful adopted children, I experienced firsthand the struggles presented within the child welfare system. These problems are exacerbated tenfold within our native and Tribal communities. That led me to inquire what efforts Tribes make to preserve their culture, even among Native children adopted by non-Native families. I wanted to know what efforts are in place to ensure the child stays connected to their Native culture.

Council Member Mikah Carlos of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community told me that families are welcome to access their tribal lands of origin, ranging all across different parts of the Native community. Council Member Carlos ensured the Committee that programs are established to ensure the child’s understanding of the importance of their Tribal roots and Native culture.

On top of the productive conversations held between the panel and witnesses, this marked the first time the Committee has held a hearing on Tribal lands in its 235-year history. I’d like to thank everyone who contributed a collective effort to make this one of the most important field hearings of the 118th Congress. The ongoing issue of fixing our child welfare system is a problem that affects me directly, and I am grateful to each witness for prioritizing the important work that keeps our children connected to their culture. ... See MoreSee Less