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
2025
2024
- Testimony for the Record of SCIA Listening Session – Public Safety and Justice Resources in Native Communities – April 12, 2024
- Testimony – Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies – May 15, 2024
- Testimony – House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies FY 2025 Tribal Public Witness Hearings – May 7, 2024
2023
- Testimony For the Record of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing on “Native Communities’ Priorities for the 118th Congress” – March 22, 2023
- Testimony – House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies FY 2024 Tribal Public Witness Hearings – March 8, 2023
2022
- 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
- Testimony – House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies FY 2023 Tribal Public Witness Hearings – April 6, 2022
2021
- Testimony 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
- Written Testimony House Interior Approps Tribal Witness Hearings FY22 – April 16, 2021
- Testimony – Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies – FY 2022 Outside Witness Testimony – June 25, 2021
2020
- Written Testimony House Interior Appropriations Tribal Witness Hearings – February 3, 2020
- Testimony of USET SPF President Chief Kirk Francis 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
Comments
2025
No items found
2024
2023
2022
2021
- Comments to OMB on Consultation – April 9, 2021
- Comments to IHS on Consultation – June 15, 2021
- Comments OMB FY22 Budget Request Consultation – July 23, 2021
- Comments on Mandatory Funding Approaches for the Indian Health Service – September 1, 2021
- Comments OMB FY23 Budget Request Consultation – October 4, 2021
- Comments on DOI FY22-26 Strategic Plan Framework – November 19, 2021
2020
No items found
Joint Letters
2025
No items found
2024
2023
2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – Senate Committee on Indian Affairs – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – House Committee on Natural Resources – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – Subcommittee for the Indigenous Peoples of the United States – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – House Committee on Appropriations – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – House Native American Caucus – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader – March 9, 2022
- Joint Tribal Organization Letter in Support of Advance Appropriations for IHS – Senate Committee on Appropriations – March 9, 2022
2021
2020
Letters
2025
2024
2023
No items found
2022
No items found
2021
2020
No items found
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