House Sends Dr. Ruiz’s Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Infrastructure at Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center to President’s Desk 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to improve access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center outside of Hemet, California. The Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access Improvement Act would authorize the Indian Health Service (IHS) to acquire land and build an access road to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center. The facility is the only operational IHS Youth Regional Treatment Center in California and is currently accessed by a dilapidated dirt road that washes out in heavy rains. The legislation passed the Senate earlier this year and is now on its way to President Joe Biden's desk.

"The House passage of my bill, the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access Improvement Act, is great news for the health and well-being of our Native youth," said Dr. Ruiz. "As the first and only operational Indian Health Service Youth Regional Treatment Center in California, the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet is the only facility that provides culturally relevant and effective mental health care and substance use disorder treatment for Native youth in our state. It is unacceptable that there is still no paved road to this facility, which hinders access to these crucial resources. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law to pave a road worthy of the residents' dignity who rely on the treatment that Desert Sage provides."

"Tribes, Indian Health Programs, and Native American families in California appreciate Congressman Ruiz for introducing and championing this legislation and for Representatives Barragan, Cárdenas, Aguilar, Calvert, Thompson, and Issa for cosponsoring it," said Dr. Mark LeBeau, Chief Executive Officer of the California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc. "We also appreciate Senator Feinstein for leading this effort in the Senate, and for Senators Padilla and Blumenthal for cosponsoring the bill. Their leadership in bringing this important legislation forward through the House and Senate supports the IHS in completing the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center construction project in Southern California. This bill will ensure Native families and youth can safely access these important services going forward."

BACKGROUND

The Desert Sage Youth Treatment Center provides culturally sensitive treatment for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth between ages 12 and 17 suffering from Substance Use Disorders (SUD). Previously, AI/AN youth used out-of-state facilities, which took away their support systems at this crucial time of recovery from SUD.

When the facility was constructed, IHS was unable to reach an agreement with landowners on adjacent properties to pave and maintain an access road. Dr. Ruiz's legislation would give IHS the authority to purchase the land from willing sellers and construct a road to the facility.

Specifically, the legislation would:

• Authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Indian Health Service, to purchase land from willing sellers along a dirt road leading to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center;
• Require the Secretary pay a fair market value for the land acquired;
• And direct the federal government to construct a paved road to improve access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center.