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Week of March 17, 2025

Congressman Raúl Grijalva Walks On

The National Indian Health Board honors the legacy of Congressman Raúl Grijalva – a long-time champion for Indian Country. The former Congressman supported Tribal sovereignty and self-governance to advance the healthcare needs of American Indian and Alaska Native citizens on and off of Tribal lands. The Congressman was also an environmental advocate and supported Tribe’s ability to govern their own lands through traditional ecological knowledge. We mourn the trailblazer who was a fierce advocate for Tribes and believed everyone deserved to be treated as equals. We are grateful for his years of service and know his legacy will live on through his community.

Trump Rescinds Executive Order 14112

On Friday, March 14, 2025, President Trump issued additional recissions under Executive Order (EO) 14148: Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions. The additions include the recission of EO 14112: Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination. While the rescission of this important EO is a setback, Indian Country remains resilient in holding up the trust and treaty responsibilities, Tribal sovereignty, and working to support Tribal access to programs. NIHB will continue to work with the Administration to expand self-determination and self-governance for Tribes, including with Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Coalition Group

The National Indian Health Board is proud to stand alongside 14 other Tribal organizations as part The Coalition Group, a united coalition dedicated to ensuring that the actions of the current administration do not harm American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes or the vital programs that serve our people. Together, we are actively engaging with federal agencies, Congress, and the administration to uphold the Trust and Treaty Responsibilities—sacred obligations that Tribes have paid in full with their lives and lands. The Coalition serves as a centralized hub for resources related to the Administration's early actions, including executive orders, memos, and coalition products. We emphasize the importance of educating officials on the Nation-to-Nation relationship, deepening Congressional and Administrative ties, and coordinating efforts to protect Indian Country's interests during this unique historical moment. To see the most recent communications and other template materials, you can visit thecoalitiongroup.net.

Congress is not in session this week. Late Friday, Congress cleared a full-year continuing resolution funding the federal government through September 30, 2025 generally at FY 2024 levels. The Indian Health Service is flat funded, seeing only a 0.44% increase for Services and Facilities. Contract Support Costs and section 105(l) lease payments will continue to be funded at “such sums as may be necessary.” Congress will now turn its attention to striking a bicameral deal for the budget reconciliation. Finally, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies is currently accepting request to testify for Outside Witness Day, scheduled for April 9, 2025. If you are interested in putting in a request to testify, the instructions are here and the deadline to submit a request is March 21, 2025.

Hearings

Topic: Closing the Data Gap: Improving Interoperability Between VA and Community Providers

Committee: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Oversight Hearing

Date: Next Week – March 24, 2025, at 3:00 PM

Hearing Website Link

Topic: Mission Incomplete: Strengthening the TAP Program to Ensure a Smoother Transition to Civilian Life for Tomorrow’s Veterans

Committee: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Oversight Hearing

Date: Next Week – March 25, 2025, at 10:15 AM

Hearing Website Link

Topic: Breaking Down Barriers: Getting Veterans ACCESS to Lifesaving Care

Committee: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Health Oversight Hearing

Date: Next Week – March 25, 2025, at 2:30 PM

Hearing Website Link

View NIHB’s full Dear Tribal Leader Letter Tracker here

IHS March 6 Letter: The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders to share updates on enhancements to the process for requesting a Tribal Delegation Meeting (TDM) with the IHS Director. The IHS is also inviting Tribal Leaders to contribute to a display honoring Tribal Nations that will be installed at IHS Headquarters.

SSA January 17 Letter: The SSA Acting Commissioner writes to Tribal Leaders to share updates to the SSA benefits program and office activities.

IHS January 17 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to express deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve as the Indian Health Service Director.

See IHS Dear Tribal Leader Letters from 2024.

Consultations

27^th Annual HHS Tribal Budget Consultation

The Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, sent out a DTLL, inviting Tribal Leaders to the 27^th U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Tribal Budget Consultation (ATBC), which will take place on April 22-23, 2025, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building at 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Official comments are due April 12, 2025, at 5:00pm ET to consultation@hhs.gov.

• Register to attend the virtual ATBC Planning Sessions on March 5 and 19, 2025, here.
• Register to attend the ATBC in-person on April 22-23, 2025, here.
• Request a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with HHS Divisions, during the ATBC, before April 11, 2025, here.

Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

IHS Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting

Date: March 19-20, 2025

Meeting Website

Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) Monthly Meeting

Date: March 20, 2025

Meeting Website

3^rd Quarter DSTAC Meeting

Date: April 24, 2025

Meeting Website

Social Security Administration Webinar Wednesday – Are you eligible for Social Security Survivor Benefits?

Date: March 19^th at 11:00 AM EST or March 26^th at 2:30 PM EST

March 19^th, 2025 at 11:00 AM Eastern

March 26^th, 2025 at 2:30 PM Eastern

2025 Tribal Self-Governance Annual Conference

Date: April 7-10, 2025

Meeting Website

NCUIH 2025 Annual Conference

Date: April 22 – 25, 2025

Event Webpage

Indigenous Trauma and Resilience Research Center COBRE Symposium at the University of North Dakota

Date: April 24-25, 2025

Event Registration

National Tribal Health Conference 2025 in Chandler, Arizona

Date: September 12-17, 2025

Event Website

Activities to Increase Engagement of Community Based Organizations in Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) Processes | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: March 21, 2025, at 11:59 PT

Award Amount: One award, funded up to $126,000

Description: The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) is seeking a tribally-led implementation partner to work alongside CDC, CDC Foundation and other partners to increase engagement of community based organizations (CBOs) in Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) processes. This opportunity will explore the need, interest, capacity and applicability of maternal mortality review committees in tribal spaces.

Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Grants | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: April 4, 2025

Award Amount: Up to $1,000,000

Description: The grant will support 5-year cooperative agreements between ACF and federally recognized Indian tribes (or a consortium of Indian tribes), tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations interested in developing, implementing, sustaining, or expanding an evidence-based home visiting program serving expectant families and families with young children aged birth to kindergarten. Additionally, awards will support the implementation of high-quality, culturally grounded, evidence-based home visiting services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) families and children; implementation of performance measurement and continuous quality improvement systems; development of early childhood systems; and participation in research and evaluation activities to build evidence around home visiting, particularly in Tribal communities

Long-term Care Joint Venture Construction Program | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: Phase I Application due on close of business, April 10, 2025

Description: Under the LTC JVCP, federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes construct a Tribal-owned Long Term Care, Skilled Nursing Facility, or Long-term Home facility using non-IHS funds that meets IHS design criteria and approval. In exchange, IHS will enter into a 20-year nominal lease for the facility and request annual appropriations for the operation and maintenance of the facility during the lease period. Additional priority is to be given to Tribes who agree to fund the initial equipment portion of the project.

Tribal Management Grant Program | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: April 28, 2025

Description: The Indian Health Service is now accepting applications for grants under the Tribal Management Grant Program, a competitive grant for federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations that is administered by the Office of Tribal and Urban Affairs.

The Tribal Management Grant Program is designed to enhance and develop health management infrastructure and assist tribes and tribal organizations in assuming all or part of existing IHS programs, functions, services, and activities through agreements under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act. It also assists tribes and tribal organizations with existing agreements to further develop and improve their management capabilities.

The Tribal Management Grant Program consists of four project types, with funding amounts and project periods indicated below:

• Feasibility Study: Maximum funding: $70,000. Project period: 12 months
• Planning: Maximum funding: $50,000. Project period: 12 months
• Evaluation Study: Maximum funding: $50,000. Project period: 12 months
• Health Management Structure: Average funding: $100,000. Project period: 12 months. Maximum funding: $300,000. Project period: 36 months.

National Indian Health Board | www.nihb.org | 202-507-4070