Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
The Indian Health Service (IHS) has published a Dear Tribal Leader Letter announcing a Tribal consultation on the allocation of funding to IHS from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) (P.L. 117-2), the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58), and the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) (currently under consideration by Congress). Details regarding the upcoming Tribal consultation are as follows—
Comments on the IHS funding sources received from ARPA, IIJA, and the proposed BBBA are due Thursday, December 23, 2021 and can be submitted to consultation@ihs.gov. Comments should be sent by email using the Subject Line: American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Build Back Better Act.
Background Information
Funds Allocated to IHS under the American Rescue Plan Act
Under ARPA, IHS was allocated $210 million for public health workforce activities. On November 10, 2021 the White House announced the allocation of these funds to include:
- $92 million to provide nurses in Bureau of Indian Education schools;
- $67 million to enhance the public health capacity for IHS and Tribal Nations;
- $45 million for additional IHS loan repayment awards; and
- $6 million for surveillance and epidemiology for Native populations.
Funds Allocated to IHS under the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act
The IIJA was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. The law includes $3.5 billion over five years for the IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction program.
Proposed Funding Allocations to IHS Under the Build Back Better Act Currently Being Considered by Congress
Although the BBBA is still being considered by Congress and has not become law, the bill proposes $2.35 billion for IHS programs. Proposed funding allocations for IHS programs under this bill include:
- $1 billion to address the 1933 Health Care Facilities Construction Priority List;
- $945 million for Maintenance and Improvement projects;
- $124 million for behavioral health services, which includes facilities improvements;
- $113 million for Facilities and Environmental Health Support activities;
- $100 million for Urban Indian Organization construction;
- $40 million for the Small Ambulatory Program; and
- $25 million for Tribal Epidemiology Centers.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
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