NPAIHB Legislative & Policy Update
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
All meetings virtual

February 3, 2021
1st Biannual CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting
10 a.m - 4 p.m.

February 9, 2021
Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) Quarterly Meeting (with Budget Formulation)
8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Registration

February 10, 2021
Provider Relief Fund Webinar - Reporting Requirements and Eligible Uses
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST Registration

February 11 - 12, 2021
FY 2023 National Tribal Budget Formulation Work Session

February 16, 2021
Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Council Tribal Caucus
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. PST
 
February 17, 2021
Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting
11a.m. - 2 p.m. PST
 
Veterans Health Administration and IHS Tribal Consultation Listening Session #2. Revised DRAFT Memo of Understanding (Comments due by Mar 02, 2021)
12 p.m. - 3 p.m. PST Webinar Link

February 21 - 25, 2021
2021 National Congress of American Indians Executive Council Winter Session

February 24 - 25, 2021
Health and Human Services Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) Meeting

Mar 9, 2021
Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee Meeting
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. PST
ACTION ALERTS
Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships: On Jan 26, 2021, President Biden issued a
memorandum reaffirming the policy in Presidential Memorandum of Nov. 5, 2009 and his administration's commitment to fulfilling Federal trust and treaty obligations and meaningful, regular, and robust consultation with Tribal Nations.

Indian Health Service CHEF Rulemaking: Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) issued Jan 29, 2021 states that the 2016 proposed changes to how Tribal self-insurance is recognized will NOT be implemented (see NPAIHB's 2016 comment letter), and that "Agency policy does not consider tribally funded self-insurance plans as an alternate resource under the IHS's payer of last resort rule". 
 
Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Establishment: The Department of Interior published a proposed rule on Feb 1, 2021 calling for nominations to the Rulemaking Committee to advise the Secretary on the implementation of Practical Reforms and Other Goals to Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination for Indian Tribes Act of 2019. Nominations and comments are due March 3, 2021.
REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES
NPAIHB Regulations Tracker: An on-going list of federal agency actions with impact analysis.
 
Veterans Health Administration and IHS Tribal Consultation 2020. Revised DRAFT Memorandum of Understanding (Comment period extended to Mar 02, 2021)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
NPAIHB Legislation Tracker:  An on-going list of legislation introduced in the 117th Congress.
 
Strengthening America's Health Care Readiness Act introduced on Jan 26, 2021. This legislation addresses health workforce shortages, provides additional funding to the National Health Service Corps and the Nurse Corps. It also establishes a National Health Service Corps Emergency Service demonstration project.

Congress is gearing up to address President Biden's American Rescue Plan (COVID-19 Relief) next week.  By all appearances, the Democrats are moving forward through the budget reconciliation process, which can pass legislation through the Senate with a simple majority vote. This is a 1.9 trillion-dollar legislative package that provides economic relief and pandemic support. The Biden Plan recognizes that American Indian/Alaska Native people living on reservations are 4x as likely to have COVID-19, and 2x as likely to die from COVID-19 than white Americans, and includes a $20 billion-dollar investment in Indian Country. Tribes are advocating for $40 billion. The Biden Plan also includes $1,400 per-person checks, and raises the minimum wage to $15/hour nationally.
 
Portland Area Congressional Representatives Committee Assignments

Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Chair: Patty Murray, (D-WA)

Senate Finance Committee
Chair: Ron Wyden (D-WA)
Ranking Member: Mike Crapo (R-ID)

House Energy & Commerce Committee
Ranking Member: Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
 
Proposed House Appropriations Sub-Committee Representation*
 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Dan Newhouse (WA)

Defense
Derek Kilmer (D-WA)

Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
Mike Simpson (R-ID), Ranking Member
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Dan Newhouse (R-WA)

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Mike Simpson (R-ID)

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)

Legislative Branch
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Ranking Member
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA)

*Appropriations assignments pending caucus approval.
For more information
 Laura Platero, Executive Director
Veronica Smith, Health Policy Consultant | Lisa L. Griggs, Executive and Program Ops Assistant | Candice Jimenez, Health Policy Specialist | Liz Coronado, Health Policy Specialist
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