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 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 Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) was enacted in 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), though it is unrelated to the underlying healthcare reform legislation; and

WHEREAS, the IHCIA serves as the backbone legislation for the Indian Health Service (IHS)/Tribal/and Urban Indian (collectively known as the I/T/U) health system which provides healthcare services for AI/ANs in fulfillment of the federal government’s trust responsibility for health that is derived from statutes, treaties, and Executive Orders; and

WHEREAS, with the inclusion of the permanent reauthorization of the IHCIA was included as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (P.L. 111-148); and