Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Tom Cole (R-OK) have reintroduced the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act (IPAAA), which aims to provide advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), to fund critical public services for Tribal Nations.
"As a member of the Senate Committees on the Budget and Indian Affairs, I’m committed to ensuring our country’s funding reflects our trust responsibility to Tribal Nations and New Mexico values," Luján said in a news release on July 24. "That means common-sense reform that provides Tribal Nations with timely, sufficient, sustainable, and predictable funding"
In 2022, Congress provided the Indian Health Service (IHS) with advance appropriations for the first time, but there is no existing law requiring continuous advance appropriations for the IHS or other tribal agencies. The act seeks to to prevent that and protect agencies and tribal governments from funding lapses, including hospitals, schools, law enforcement, child welfare programs, among other services, to ensure stability for essential programs for Native communities, the release stated.
"This bipartisan legislation responsibly funds critical programs that protect the health, safety, and education of Tribal communities served by these agencies," Luján said. "I’m proud to lead the reintroduction of this legislation and I look forward to building support for this much-needed bill.”
Mullin said the measure is necessary for the protection of tribal life.
“If the federal government lapses in annual appropriation funding, Indian Country should not have to suffer the consequences,” Mullin said. “In order to uphold our trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, it is vital the federal government moves these programs to the advance appropriations process to ensure economic security for Tribal communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues on this important legislation to protect Indian Country from future shutdowns.”
McCollum added that the government "has a responsibility to honor our trust and treaty commitments to Indian Country. Advance Appropriations ensures that health care facilities, tribal justice services, and social services for children, families, and seniors are not interrupted in the event of a government shutdown," she explained.
Part of the government's responsibility "is to ensure basic services are securely provided,” said Cole, who is co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. “This legislation would allow vital accounts within the Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Indian Education, to be funded a year in advance so Indian Country is not left behind. The bill provides tribal nations with a stable budget to support the health, life safety, education and other public services of Indians and I am proud to co-lead this effort in its critical introduction.”