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Week of March 10, 2025

The Coalition Group

The National Indian Health Board is proud to stand alongside 14 other Tribal organizations as part of 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 has a deadline of Friday, March 14 to pass a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. This weekend, House Republicans released a seven-month continuing resolution which will fund the government through September 30, 2025. The proposed bill would generally fund the federal government at FY 2024 levels, but also proposes to slash $890 million in grants for health care facilities and equipment among other HHS spending reductions. Speaker Johnson aims to pass the bill as soon as Tuesday on a party-line vote. The continuing resolution also includes important anomalies for Indian Health, including funding for new staffing and facilities and IHS advance appropriations for FY 2026. Following the House’s adoption of its competing budget resolution, which envisions one “big, beautiful bill” on the reconciliation process, the Senate and the House will now begin discussion on the way forward that Senate and House leadership can support.

Hearings

Topic: Health Legislative Hearing

Committee: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Date: March 11, 2025, at 2:15 PM

Hearing Website Link

Topic: After the Hospital: Ensuring Access to Quality Post-Acute Care

Committee: House Ways & Means – Health Subcommittee

Date: March 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM

Hearing Website Link

Topic: Nomination of David Weldon to Serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

Date: March 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM

Hearing Website Link

Topic: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mehmet Oz, of Pennsylvania, to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, vice Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, resigned

Committee: Senate Committee on Finance

Date: March 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM

Hearing Website Link

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

IHS DTLLs for Year 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

Facilities Appropriation Advisory Board Meeting (FAAB)

Date: March 11-12, 2024

Meeting Website

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

HHS Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Briefing for Tribes

Date: March 11, 2025, 12:30 ET

Meeting Registration Link

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

Social Security Administration Webinar Wednesday – How to Navigate as a Social Security Representative for your Tribal Community Members

Date: May 14^th at 11:00 AM EST or May 21^st at 2:30 PM EST

May 14th, 2025 at 11:00 AM Eastern

May 21st, 2025 at 2:30 PM Eastern

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.

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