On Friday, February 12, NIHB sent a letter to Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) expressing support for the budget reconciliation package proposed by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Mirroring the House budget recommendations, it included:
- $5.484 billion for Indian Health Service
- $2 billion third-party relief
- $1.5 billion for testing, tracing, Personal Protective Equipment
- $600 million for vaccine education and distribution
- $600 million health care facilities
- $500 million Purchased/Referred Care
- $420 million mental/behavioral health services
- $240 million public health workforce
- $140 million electronic health records/telehealth infrastructure
- $84 million Urban Indian health
- $10 million potable water delivery
Read the full letter.