Request for an improvement in the Tribal Budget Consultation Process

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, Tribes have a unique government-to-government relationship with the federal government, and it is required that the federal government consult with Tribes before major policy changes; and,

WHEREAS, Tribal Nations are political, sovereign entities whose status stems from the inherent sovereignty they possess as self-governing people predating the founding of the United States, and since its founding the United States has recognized them as such and entered into treaties with them on that basis; and,

WHEREAS, Executive Order 13175 sets forth clear definitions and frameworks for consultation, policymaking and accountability to ensure that consultation with Indian Tribes is meaningful; and

WHEREAS, in 1955, Congress created the Indian Health Service (IHS) in order to help fulfill its trust responsibility for health to the Tribes; and

WHEREAS, the IHS Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup (TBFWG) is composed of 24 elected Tribal leaders from the 12 regions of the IHS who are given authority from Tribes in their area to represent the funding interests of those Tribes; and

WHEREAS, Tribes from across the country hold regional meetings to discuss budget priorities for the IHS in the upcoming fiscal year during the months of October, November and December; and

WHEREAS, these conversations culminate with the meeting of the IHS Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup (TBFWG) in February of each year which develops unified, national Tribal funding recommendations for the IHS which the Administration uses to develop the Annual President’s Budget Request; and