On January 23, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026opens in new window. The final legislation reflects many of APA Services’s priorities to promote psychological science and expand access to mental and behavioral health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).
The law includes more than $8 billion in funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), along with advance appropriations and increased investments in mental health and substance abuse prevention programs serving AI/AN communities. These investments are critical to addressing longstanding inequities in health care access, including access to culturally responsive behavioral health services.
APA Services advocated for these programs through its FY 2026 House and Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations testimony (PDF, 135KB)opens in new window, which emphasized the urgent need to strengthen IHS funding and ensure sustained access to essential mental and behavioral health services for AI/AN populations. The testimony highlighted persistent workforce shortages and barriers to care that disproportionately affect Native communities.
In addition, during APA Services’s annual Native American Hill Day in 2025, APA Services worked in collaboration with coalition partners and congressional offices to advance Native mental health priorities. These efforts contributed to a $3 million increase in funding for Native American mental health programs. APA Services also joined partner organizations in submitting a coalition letter to Congress supporting increased funding for AI/AN health programs (PDF, 52KB)opens in new window. APA Services further recommended increased funding for the Indian Health Professions Account, underscoring the importance of training psychologists with the cultural knowledge and competencies needed to serve AI/AN communities effectively. This account includes the American Indians Into Psychology Program (INPSYCH), which supports the development of Native psychologists. The final law includes a $4 million increase for INPSYCH, strengthening the behavioral health workforce pipeline in Indian communities.
For more information, contact: Serena Dávila.