WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest and largest national organization established in 1944 and comprised of representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and local Tribal concerns; and

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of NCAI; and,

WHEREAS the Indian Health Service is the federal agency with the responsibility to fund Indian health programs operated by Tribes and by the Indian Health Service but has insufficient funds to meet the health care needs of Indian people; and

WHEREAS the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (P.L. 94-437) is the fundamental authorizing legislation for Indian health programs; and

WHEREAS the Indian Health Service Director, Dr. Michael Trujillo has convened a National Steering Committee on Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act that has developed a proposed bill that was transmitted to the Congress on October 8, 1999; and

WHEREAS tribes and Indian people nationwide have participated in the work of the National Steering Committee on Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act,

WHEREAS the House introduced a bill, HR 3397, that incorporates the proposed changes included in the I/T/U developed bill of October 6, 1999; and

WHEREAS, the Senate has also introduced a bill, S. 2526, that incorporates the proposed changes included in the I/T/U developed bill,

Now therefore be it resolved, that NCAI does hereby support the bill proposed by the National Steering Committee on Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and Senate Bill S. 2526 and House Bill HR 3397,

Be it finally resolved, that the National Congress of American Indians urges Congress to continue to hold hearings on the bills to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act that incorporate the recommendations of the National Steering Committee on Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement.

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000 with a quorum present.

_____________________________

Susan Masten, President

Juana Majel, Recording Secretary

Adopted by the General Assembly during the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000.