Opening Statement: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 5549, Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act

Summary

An opening statement for a legislative hearing on H.R. 5549, the Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act, dated 7.28.22. The statement says the bill is sponsored by the late Dean of the House, Mr. Don Young from Alaska, and that Congress continually struggles to pass appropriations bills in a timely manner. It states that H.R. 5549 would authorize advance appropriations for two Indian Health Service budget accounts, one year in advance, and says this would help Indian tribes, Alaska Natives and others plan ahead and manage budgets more efficiently. It ends with thanks to the witnesses and a yield back to the Chair.

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                     SCIP Legislative Hearing
    H.R. 5549, Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act
                             7.28.22

                      OPENING STATEMENT


Good afternoon and thank you, Madam Chair.

As you mentioned, the subcommittee will be receiving
testimony on H.R. 5549, the Indian Health Service Advance
Appropriations Act.

This bill is sponsored by the late Dean of the House, Mr. Don
Young from Alaska.

Congress continually struggles to pass appropriations bills in a
timely manner. Regular order frequently goes out the window,
as omnibus bills barrel through House and the Senate right as
the end of the fiscal year approaches. That’s if we get an
omnibus at all.


Frequently, Congress will choose to enact a continuing
resolution that impacts all departments and can minimizes what
pay authority there is in the future.


Or, even worse, there is no appropriations passed into law and
the government is forced to shutdown.
Any of these disruptions can cause uncertainty for Native
communities that rely on services and programs managed by the
Indian Health Service. If there is a delay in federal funding,
Indian Country can be disproportionately impacted and seriously
hindered.


H.R. 5549 would authorize advance appropriations for two
Indian Health Service budget accounts. The first year this is in
place, appropriations would be set aside for two fiscal years, and
then appropriations would be authorized one year in advance.

The accounts covered, include: the accounts that provide the
basic funding for Indian Health Services and funding for the
construction of Indian Health Service facilities.


This will help Indian tribes, Alaska Natives and others properly
plan ahead and manage budgets more efficiently. I want to thank
our witnesses for being here today and I am looking forward to
hearing their testimony.

Thank you, Madam Chair, I yield back.


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