By THE ALASKA STORY
US Sen. Lisa Murkowski is again partnering with a leading Democrat on legislation that advances a race-based federal program.
Murkowski joined Democrat Sen. Patty Murray of Washington State to introduce the PHS ACCESS Act, a bill that would expand the ability of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to be assigned to Urban Indian Organizations. The legislation is designed specifically to serve American Indian and Alaska Native populations living in urban areas, a demographic defined by race and ancestry.
According to the bill, approximately 70% of Native populations now live in urban settings, and 41 Urban Indian Organizations nationwide provide targeted healthcare services to those communities.
Murkowski’s office says the bill addresses workforce shortages by allowing more federal health officers to be reassigned directly to these organizations and by creating incentives for service in rural and underserved areas. Murkowski said the goal is to ensure Native populations receive “culturally grounded care” and improved access to services regardless of where they live. But if the bill is enacted, it may have the effect of robbing Peter to pay Paul, taking health care access away from other Americans.
The legislation is part of a broader trend: Murkowski repeatedly aligns with Democrats on policies that carve out programs based on race or ethnicity as she courts the Native vote. Such programs raise constitutional and policy concerns with conservatives about equal treatment under the law.
