Bipartisan bills introduced in the U.S. House would authorize appropriations for essential tribal services funded by the federal government a full year in advance to help tribes better meet commitments for trust and treaty responsibilities in Indian Country.
The Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act sponsored by Rep. Betty McCollum, D-MN, authorizes advance appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including the Bureau of Indian Education and the Indian Health Service.
The Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act of 2019, sponsored by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, would provide advance appropriations authority for the Indian Health Service.
Both bills include advance funding for contract support costs to provide certainty for tribal nations who operate HIS or BIA programs under self-governance contracts and compacts.
Young’s office said he and McCollum are joined in sponsorship of both bills by the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK, and Rep. Deb Haaland, D-NM.
“Alaska Native and American Indian communities have historically been shortchanged when it comes to receiving high quality health care to meet their unique needs,” Young said. “The goal of these bills is simple: enable Congress to appropriate funding for the Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education one fiscal year in advance.”
“Chronic appropriations delays, piecemeal funding bills and government shutdown have hampered the ability of HIS, BIA and BIE to deliver the health care and services our first peoples rely on,” he said.
