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Week of October 28, 2024

In this Letter:

📣Announcements 

✒️Congressional Items 

đź“ť Dear Tribal Leader Letters

đź“’Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations

🎟️Events  

đź’µ Notice of Funding Opportunities

Announcements

President Biden Apologies for U.S. Role in Boarding Schools

Last week, President Joe Biden delivered a historic apology for the U.S. government’s role in overseeing Indian boarding schools, addressing decades of cultural suppression faced by Native American Children. The President’s apology followed a report from the Interior Department revealing the widespread abuses and lasting impacts of the boarding school system, as a result of the efforts of the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS). Additionally, the report issued recommendations such as a formal apology from the U.S., approval of a proposed Truth and Healing Commission to further investigate boarding schools, and many more. We thank the leadership of NABS for their tireless advocacy in elevating this critical issue with Congress and other policymakers, and we call on Congress to pass the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools Act (S.1723/H.R. 7227). Learn more about the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools here.

CMS Tribal Week of Action

This week is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Tribal Week of Action. The Marketplace Open Enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15. Consumers who want health coverage starting January 1 should enroll in coverage by December 15. Although American Indians and Alaska Natives can enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan any time, it is encouraged to enroll during Open Enrollment to review your upcoming 2025 health plans in case there are any changes to your premium or benefits, and to ensure your family members who are non-Tribal members are covered for the year. Have questions about health insurance? Visit the Health Insurance Marketplace or talk to your Tribal Enrollment Assister to find a plan that works for you. Find more Tribal Week of Action resources here

Congressional Corner

Congress is out for October recess and will return November 12th to begin to wrap up the 118th Congress in a lame duck legislation. The Congressional Diabetes Caucus leadership announced new Dear Colleague Letters to demonstrate continued bipartisan support for the Special Diabetes Program and Special Diabetes Program for Indians. Reps. Diana DeGette and Gus Bilirakis on the House side and Sens. Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen plan to release their respective letters this week. NIHB will be coordinating to obtain signatures and encourage Tribal advocates to do the same.


While legislators are home in their district engaging with constituents before the election, use the opportunity to raise important legislative priorities for Indian Country! NIHB has compiled advocacy resources to help:


  • Mandatory Funding for CSC and 105(l) Leases: NIHB will continue advancing our advocacy efforts regarding moving Tribal Contract Support Costs (CSC) and 105(l) Lease Payments to mandatory appropriations this month. This includes getting Members of Congress to sign onto letters to leadership supporting this change. Visit our advocacy resource page for more information and to see how you can get involved! 
  • SDPI Renewal: The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) expires on December 31, 2024. Click here for additional resources supporting renewal of this critical program.  


Please contact NIHB’s Congressional Relations team for more information at wdavis@nihb.org and tbarrett@nihb.org. 

Dear Tribal Leader Letters


View NIHB’s full Dear Tribal Leader Letter Tracker here 

IHS October 24 Letter: The Director writes to request comments and recommendations on the combined Fiscal Years (FYs) 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress on the Administration of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Program.

Draft Report | Exhibit A | Exhibit B


SSA October 10 Letter: The Director writes to share upcoming agency events and a rescheduling for SSA’s Virtual Tribal Consultation to November 14.


IHS October 10 Letter: The Director writes to seek comments and recommendations on the proposed reorganization of the IHS Headquarters Office of the Director.


IHS October 9 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to invite them to provide updated Facility Master Plans and other identified health care facility needs to be considered for inclusion in the 2026 IHS and Tribal Health Care Facilities’ Needs Assessment Report to Congress.


IHS October 8 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to announce the new solicitation for the FY25 IHS Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP).


IHS October 4 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share the Director's Year 2 Accomplishments Report--2024.


SAMHSA October 2 Letter: The Assistant Secretary writes to announce upcoming virtual Tribal consultations on updates to the SAMHSA Tribal Consultation Policy (TCP). 

Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations


View NIHB’s full Regulations Tracker here


Consultations

HHS Tribal Data Access Policy and HHS Tribal Epidemiology Access Policy

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Comments Due: Please send comments to consultation@hhs.gov with subject line HHS Tribal Data Access Policy or HHS TEC Data Access Policy by October 31, 2024

Email Christina Diego (cdiego@nihb.org) if you are interested in a template comment.

 

SAMHSA Consultation on Tribal Consultation Policy

Date: November 6, 2024, 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Date: December 5, 2024, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Please send comments to otap@samhsa.hhs.gov by 5:00 PM ET on January 6, 2025

 

Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Health IT Modernization Program: Site Readiness and Training

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 7, 2024, 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

 

HRSA Consultation on the Uniform Data System Modernization Initiative

Date: November 13, 3034, 3:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Please send written comments or testimony to tribalconsultation@hrsa.gov by December 13, 2024

 

Social Security Administration Tribal Consultation

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 14, 2024, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

 

Treasury and Internal Revenue Service Consultations on Tribal General Benefits (REG-106851- 21) Proposed Rule

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 18, 19, 20, 2024, 1:00 PM ET (each day)

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: December 17, 2024, 11:59 Alaska Time 


SAMHSA Consultation on the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program

Date: November 21, 2024, 3:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Written comments accepted on or before November 27, 2024

 

IHS Consultation on Fiscal Years (FYs) 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress on the Administration of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Program

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Draft Combined FYs 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress

Comments Due: Please send written comments to consultation@ihs.gov, subject line, “Tribal Self-Governance Report to Congress – FYs 2020 and 2021”, by December 23, 2024

Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

Medicaid, Medicare, and Health Policy Reform Committee (MMPC) Meeting

Date: November 5, 2024

Location: (Hybrid) Washington, DC

Contact federalrelations@nihb.org with questions


TTAG Face-to-Face Meeting

Dates: November 6-7, 2024

Location: (Hybrid) Washington DC


Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC)

Date: November 20, 2024


Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) 1st Quarter Meeting

Date: November 20, 2024

Meeting Website


Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Meeting

Dates: December 3-4, 2024

Location: Tucson, AZ


HRSA TAC Meeting

Date: December 4, 2024, 1:00 - 5:00 PM ET



IHS Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting

Dates: December 16-17, 2024

Location: Washington, DC

Events

National Congress of American Indians 81st Annual Convention & Marketplace

Date: October 27-November 1, 2024

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Event Website Link


CMS Open Enrollment Webinar Series

  • October 28, 2024 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
  • January 8, 2025 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
  • January 29, 2025 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link


Administration for Children and Families Native Early Childhood Development Funds – Maximizing Impact through Flexible Funding Strategies

Date: November 7, 2024, 3:00pm ET

Registration link.


HRSA Workshop on Reducing the Stigma Related to Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Program Information

Contact Ken_Sayres@urmc.rochester.edu to learn more


FDA All Tribes Call to Discuss Sodium Reduction in the Food Supply

Date: November 7, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET

Zoom Link

 

NIHB Webinar: Tribal Prenatal to Three Policy Agenda

Date: November 12, 2024, 2:30-3:30 PM ET

Zoom Link

Notice of Funding Opportunities

IHS FY 2024 Small Ambulatory Program (SAP) | Click Here to Learn More

Award Amount: Up to $3.5 million

Application Deadline: November 8, 2024

Description: This long-standing program supports eligible projects with awards of up to $3.5 million to construct, expand, or modernize a small ambulatory healthcare facility. The FY 2024 application submission deadline is November 8. Additional background on the program is available in this Dear Tribal Leader Letter. Questions may be directed to CDR Omobogie Amadasu at omobogie.amadasu@ihs.gov


IHS FY 2025 Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP) | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: December 22, 2024

Description: IHS recently announced the opening of a new solicitation for the JVCP. Section 818 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act authorizes the IHS to establish joint venture projects under which Tribes or Tribal organizations would acquire, construct, or renovate a health care facility and lease it to the IHS, at no cost, for a period of 20 years. The facility may be an inpatient or outpatient facility. Phase I applications are due December 22.

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