Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2026

(a) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Papa Ola Lokahi. The term Papa Ola Lokahi has the meaning given the term in section 12 of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. 11711).

(2) Urban Indian organization. The term urban Indian organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).

(b) Infant and maternal health data improvement. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in coordination with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, Papa Ola Lokahi, and urban Indian organizations, shall—

(1) develop guidance for State and local health agencies to improve the quality and accuracy of data with respect to Native American infant and maternal health;

(2) enter into cooperative agreements with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, Papa Ola Lokahi, and urban Indian organizations to analyze and address misclassification and undersampling of Native American infant and maternal health datasets;

(3) adopt, based on local, statewide, Tribal, and national best practices, uniform methods for the collection of infant and maternal health data, including aggregating data over time, using weighted sampling, and oversampling small populations, such as Native American communities;

(4) encourage States to enter into data sharing agreements with Indian Tribes, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and Papa Ola Lokahi to improve the quality and accuracy of Native American infant and maternal health data, including by addressing misclassification and undersampling of Native American data in State and local public health data systems;

(5) offer technical assistance to States to support the adoption, based on local, statewide, Tribal, and national best practices and in consultation with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and Papa Ola Lokahi, as appropriate, uniform methods for the collection of infant and maternal health data, including aggregating data over time, using weighted sampling, and oversampling small populations, such as Native American communities; and

(6) conduct Tribal consultations and identify the barriers to Indian Tribes participating in the programs described in subsection (d) of section 317K of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–12) and offer technical assistance to Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and urban Indian organizations to develop maternal mortality review committees under such section.

(c) Reports. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report on infant and maternal health data, including Native American infant and maternal health data.