NCUIH Joins NIHB and 70 Organizations Calling on Congress to include $8 Billion for IHS in FY 2022 and Advance Appropriations

On March 9, 2022, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) joined the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), and over 70 Tribal nations, Tribal and national Indian organizations, and friends of Indian health in sending a series of joint letters to Congress amid their final negotiations of an omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. The recommendations for reauthorization outlined in the letter include:

• No less than the House-passed level of $8.114 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) in the final Appropriations bill for FY 2022
• Advance Appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS)

The House-passed funding level would be an increase of $1.88 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. The Senate Appropriations Committee FY 2022 funding bill included $6.6 billion in Advance Appropriations for IHS FY 2023.

Letters to Congress:

• House Committee on Appropriations and Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
• House Committee on Natural Resources and Subcommittee for the Indigenous Peoples of the United States
• House Native American Caucus
• Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader
• Senate Committee on Appropriations and Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
• Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
• Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader

Background and Advocacy

NCUIH has long advocated for larger investments in AI/AN health care and has called on Congress to strengthen their commitment to Indian Country with increased funding in the FY 2022 appropriations:

• NCUIH Policy Alert – House Interior Appropriations Bill Advances with Historic Inclusion of $200.5 Million for Urban Indian Health
• NCUIH Policy Alert – Senate Releases FY22 Funding Bills with Historic Increase for Urban Indian Health, Indian Health Service, Advance Appropriations, MMIW and UIO Facility Fix