House Appropriations Committee Approves Labor-HHS Bill with Funding Increases for Indian Country

On July 15, 2021, the House Appropriations Committee approved its fiscal year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill by a 33-25 vote. The bill authorizes $119.8 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)— an increase of $22.9 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level and $129 million below the president’s FY 2022 budget request. Other key provisions include a $15 million set-aside for IHS facilities/Tribally-Operated Health Programs/Urban Indian Health Programs under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program, increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)— including an increase for the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) program, increased funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and increased American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) set-aside funding for Zero Suicide grants. A more detailed analysis follows below.

• Bill Report
• Bill Summary

Bill Highlights

CDC

• Bill Report: “The Committee recommendation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program level includes $9,612,761,000 in discretionary budget authority, $55,358,000 in mandatory funds under the terms of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, and $903,300,000 in transfers from the Prevention and Public Health (PPH) Fund.” The bill funds the CDC at $10.6 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion above the FY2021 enacted level.

GHWIC

• Bill Report: “The Committee’s recommended level includes an increase of $5,000,000 for Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country.”

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