The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) presented its Urban Indian Health Champion Award to retiring Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) during the organization’s 2026 Annual Conference, recognizing her years of advocacy and leadership on behalf of urban Indian communities.
According to NCUIH, Sen. Smith has consistently supported policies and funding priorities aimed at strengthening health care access for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) and the Native communities they serve.
One of the senator’s most notable accomplishments came in 2020, when she co-introduced the bipartisan Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act. The legislation extended Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage to UIOs, providing important liability protections for urban Indian health providers and helping improve access to care for Native patients living in urban areas.
NCUIH described the legislation as a significant victory for urban Indian health and one example of the meaningful change Senator Smith has worked to achieve for Indian Country throughout her time in office.
The organization also highlighted Smith’s continued leadership in advocating for federal funding for urban Indian health programs. Each year, she has led the Senate “Dear Colleague” letter to the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee requesting maximum funding for urban Indian health and advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service.
NCUIH said the effort has provided consistent and reliable leadership that Urban Indian Organizations across the country have come to depend on.
“As Senator Smith prepares to conclude her Senate service at the end of her term, this award also celebrates her legacy,” NCUIH said in a statement. “Over the course of her tenure, she has helped transform how Congress thinks about urban Indian health.”
The organization added that it is “deeply grateful for everything she has done for urban Indian communities” and honored to recognize her with the Urban Indian Health Champion Award.
