Budget and Appropriations
We advocate for the fulfillment of the federal trust and treaty obligations, including full funding for federal Indian programs. Because of our history and unique relationship with the U.S., the trust obligation of the federal government to Tribal Nations, as reflected in the federal budget, is fundamentally different from ordinary discretionary spending and should be considered mandatory in nature. Inadequate funding to Indian Country needs to be viewed as unfilled treaty and trust obligations and should not be vulnerable to year to year “discretionary” decisions by appropriators. Federal spending in fulfillment of trust and treaty obligations is not responsible for the federal deficit and must be held harmless as our nation seeks to reduce its debt. USET SPF envisions a future in which federal funding to Tribal Nations is no longer a discretionary choice and all dollars are contractable and compactable.
Testimony
2023
- Testimony of the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund
For the Record of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing on “Native Communities’ Priorities for the 118th Congress” - March 22, 2023 - USET SPF Testimony - House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies FY 2024 Tribal Public Witness Hearings - March 8, 2023
2022
- USET SPF Testimony Before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States for the Legislative Hearing on H.R. 5549, the Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act - July 26, 2022
- USET SPF Follow-up Comments on DOI FY22-26 Strategic Plan Framework - May 6, 2022
- USET SPF Testimony - House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
FY 2023 Tribal Public Witness Hearings - April 6, 2022
2021
- USET SPF Testimony - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies - FY 2022 Outside Witness Testimony - June 25, 2021
- USET SPF Written Testimony House Interior Approps Tribal Witness Hearings FY22 - April 16, 2021
- Testimony of United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund For the Record of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing, “A call to action: Native communities’ priorities in focus for the 117th Congress” - March 24, 2021
2020
- Testimony of Chief Kirk Francis, President United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs For the Oversight Hearing, “From Languages to Homelands: Advancing Tribal Self-Governance and Cultural Sovereignty for Future Generations.” - December 9, 2020
- USET SPF Written Testimony House Interior Appropriations Tribal Witness Hearings - February 3, 2020
Comments
2022
- USET SPF Comments to OMB on FY 2024 Budget Request - October 14, 2022
- USET SPF Comments on DOI Small Tribes Supplement TPA - June 30, 2022
- USET SPF Comments to OMB on FY23 Budget Request Consultation - May 18, 2022
2021
- USET SPF Comments on DOI FY22-26 Strategic Plan Framework - November 19, 2021
- USET SPF Comments OMB FY23 Budget Request Consultation - October 4, 2021
- USET SPF Comments on Mandatory Funding Approaches for the Indian Health Service - September 1, 2021
- USET SPF Comments OMB FY22 Budget Request Consultation - July 23, 2021
- USET SPF Comments to IHS on Consultation - June 15, 2021
- USET SPF Comments to OMB on Consultation - April 9, 2021
Joint Letters
2023
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter to OMB re: Native Behavioral Health Resources Program - February 17, 2023
2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letters in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS (March 9, 2022):
- House Committee on Appropriations and Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
- House Committee on Natural Resources and Subcommittee for the Indigenous Peoples of the United States
- House Native American Caucus
- Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader
- Senate Committee on Appropriations and Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
- Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
- Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader
2021
2020
- USET SPF Joins Letter FY2021 Funding for the Native American Business Incubators Program - November 16, 2020
Letters
2021
- USET SPF Impact Week Follow-up Letter for Chair Schatz - July 12, 2021
- USET SPF Letter to Sec Haaland re WHCNAA - May 27, 2021
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