Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act

Summary#

This bill would change several laws so certain Indian programs get "advance appropriations." That means Congress would approve funding for those accounts for the budget year and also provide new budget authority that first becomes available in the next fiscal year. The bill adds lists of "covered accounts" for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Operation of Indian Programs; Contract Support Costs; Indian Guaranteed Loan Program; Construction; Payments for Tribal Leases), the Bureau of Indian Education (Operation of Indian Education Programs; Education Construction), and the Indian Health Service (Indian Health Services; Contract Support Costs; Payments for Tribal Leases; Indian Health Facilities).

The bill also requires the Interior Secretary and the head of the Indian Health Service to include in the President's budget detailed estimates of funds needed for the year after the budget year. It requires an annual report, due by July 31 each year, to Congress on whether resources will be sufficient for the next fiscal year. Those reports must include workload and demand estimates and be developed in consultation with Indian Tribes. The bill makes related changes to budget submission rules in title 31 and to existing Indian Self-Determination and Indian Health Care Improvement Act budget provisions.

What it means for you#

  • Tribal governments and tribal programs named in the bill would see their covered accounts set up to receive advance appropriations, meaning an extra year of budget authority would be planned.
  • Indian Health Service facilities, Indian schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education, and programs funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs would have required estimates included in the President's budget for the year after the budget year.
  • The Interior Department and Indian Health Service must send annual reports by July 31 with workload and demand data and consult with tribes while preparing those reports and budget estimates.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total costs, savings, or changes in spending amounts is included in the bill text. The bill directs that for each covered account appropriations Acts include "advance new budget authority" that first becomes available for the fiscal year after the budget year, but it does not specify dollar amounts or net budget effects.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.