Tester delivers $1.2 million to Crow Tribe for diabetes prevention
(U.S. Senate) - Vice Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Jon Tester today announced that the Crow Tribe would be receiving $1.2 million to expand its diabetes treatment and prevention program.
Last year, Tester helped pass legislation to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which provides grants to support treatment efforts to Native Americans living with diabetes, and helps fund prevention programs to stop the growth of this epidemic.
"Too many Native American families have seen how devastating diabetes can be," said Tester. "The Crow Tribe is working hard to prevent this terrible disease from taking a further toll and these additional resources will allow them to continue their great work. As we make progress combatting diabetes, I will continue to fight to permanently fund this initiative."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average, Native Americans are two times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than the rest of the nation.
Tester is continuing his efforts to permanently fund SDPI, which was reauthorized for two years and is set to expire in 2018.
This grant is administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
