479 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—A public agency or private 
nonprofit institution desiring a grant under this section 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such agreements, assur-
ances, and information as the Secretary, in consultation 
with the Administrator, may require. 
‘‘(c) RESEARCH.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Administrator, shall support, through grants 
awarded under this section, research that— 
‘‘(1) uses evidence-based research to improve 
the built environment and human health; 
‘‘(2) examines— 
‘‘(A) the scope and intensity of the impact 
that the built environment (including the var-
ious characteristics of the built environment) 
has on the human health; or 
‘‘(B) the distribution of such impacts by— 
‘‘(i) location; and 
‘‘(ii) population subgroup; 
‘‘(3) is used to develop— 
‘‘(A) measures and indicators to address 
health impacts and the connection of health to 
the built environment; 
‘‘(B) efforts to link the measures to trans-
portation, land use, and health databases; and 
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‘‘(C) efforts to enhance the collection of 
built environment surveillance data; 
‘‘(4) distinguishes carefully between personal 
attitudes and choices and external influences on be-
havior to determine how much the association be-
tween the built environment and the health of resi-
dents, versus the lifestyle preferences of the people 
that choose to live in the neighborhood, reflects the 
physical characteristics of the neighborhood; and 
‘‘(5)(A) identifies or develops effective interven-
tion strategies focusing on enhancements to the built 
environment that promote increased use physical ac-
tivity, access to nutritious foods, or other health-pro-
moting activities by residents; and 
‘‘(B) in developing the intervention strategies 
under subparagraph (A), ensures that the interven-
tion strategies will reach out to high-risk or vulner-
able populations, including low-income urban and 
rural communities and aging populations, in addi-
tion to the general population. 
‘‘(d) SURVEYS.—The Secretary may allow recipients 
of grants under this section to use such grant funds to 
support the expansion of national surveys and data track-
ing systems to provide more detailed information about 
the connection between the built environment and health. 
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‘‘(e) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary and the Administrator shall give pri-
ority to entities with programming that incorporates— 
‘‘(1) interdisciplinary approaches; or 
‘‘(2) the expertise of the public health, physical 
activity, urban planning, land use, and transpor-
tation research communities in the United States 
and abroad. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. The Secretary may al-
locate not more than 20 percent of the amount so appro-
priated for a fiscal year for purposes of conducting re-
search under subsection (c).’’. 
SEC. 1108. TRIBAL FUNDING TO RESEARCH HEALTH IN-
EQUITIES INCLUDING COVID–19. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Indian 
Health Service, in coordination with Tribal Epidemiology 
Centers and other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall 
conduct or support research and field studies for the pur-
poses of improved understanding of Tribal health inequi-
ties among American Indians and Alaska Natives, includ-
ing with respect to— 
(1) disparities related to COVID–19; 
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(2) public health surveillance and infrastructure 
regarding unmet needs in Indian country and Urban 
Indian communities; 
(3) population-based health disparities; 
(4) barriers to health care services; 
(5) the impact of socioeconomic status; and 
(6) factors contributing to Tribal health inequi-
ties. 
(b) CONSULTATION, CONFER, AND COORDINATION.— 
In carrying out this section, the Director of the Indian 
Health Service shall— 
(1) consult with Indian Tribes and Tribal orga-
nizations; 
(2) confer with Urban Indian organizations; 
(3) coordinate with the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention and the Director 
of the National Institutes of Health. 
(c) PROCESS.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Indian Health 
Service shall establish a nationally representative panel to 
establish processes and procedures for the research and 
field studies conducted or supported under subsection (a). 
The Director shall ensure that, at a minimum, the panel 
consists of the following individuals: 
(1) Elected Tribal leaders or their designees. 
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(2) Tribal public health practitioners and ex-
perts from the national and regional levels. 
(d) DUTIES.—The panel established under subsection 
(c) shall, at a minimum— 
(1) advise the Director of the Indian Health 
Service on the processes and procedures regarding 
the design, implementation, and evaluation of, and 
reporting on, research and field studies conducted or 
supported under this section; 
(2) develop and share resources on Tribal pub-
lic health data surveillance and reporting, including 
best practices; and 
(3) carry out such other activities as may be 
appropriate to establish processes and procedures for 
the research and field studies conducted or sup-
ported under subsection (a). 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after expending 
all funds made available to carry out this section, the Di-
rector of the Indian Health Service, in coordination with 
the panel established under subsection (c), shall submit 
an initial report on the results of the research and field 
studies under this section to— 
(1) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives; and 
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