WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANs, as well as upholding the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments; and

WHEREAS, the Federal government of the United States has a unique and special relationship with AI/ANs to provide health care as established through the U.S. Constitution, Treaties with Indian Tribes, U.S. Supreme Court decisions and federal legislation; and

WHEREAS, the Federal government carries out its trust responsibility to provide health care and other Federal benefits through a government to government relationship with Indian Tribes through Consultation as established by Presidential Executive Order 13175; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), P.L. 93-638, 25 U.S.C. §450 et seq., requires the payment of fixed institutional overhead costs called “contract support costs” to tribal contractors that operate essential governmental functionsof the Indian Health Service (IHS) under Titles I, III and V of the Act; and

WHEREAS, the payment of these costs is a legally binding governmental obligation, and is no less binding than the general and administrative costs commonly included in the price of many government procurement contracts; and