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 and for the fulfillment of 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 as established by Presidential Executive Order 13175; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, administers health care to 1.9 million AI/ANs residing in Tribal communities in 35 states, directly, or through contracts or compacts with Tribes and Tribal organizations under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA); and

WHEREAS, approximately 50% of the Indian health programs are operated by Tribes or Tribal organizations under the ISDEAA; and