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

WHEREAS, on January 22nd, 2017, the President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum implementing a hiring freeze across the federal government excluding military and public safety sectors; and

WHEREAS, the unmet health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives are severe and the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives is far below that of the general population of the United States, resulting in an average life expectancy for American Indians and Alaska Natives 4.2 years less than that for the U.S. all races population; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service is the “…principal federal healthcare provider and health advocate for Indian people…” and is tasked with providing comprehensive health service for approximately 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Native belonging to 567 federally recognized Tribes; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service has over 1,550 vacancies for medical professionals across the system which is causing major gaps in healthcare funding; and