Simpson Remarks at Budget Hearing on Indian Health Service

Good afternoon, everyone.  I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Indian Health Service Acting Director Benjamin Smith.  Thank you for your leadership of the IHS, and for being with us today to discuss the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request.

I would also like to welcome and thank Congressman Tom Cole for joining us today in his role as full committee chair.  Chairman Cole is the first Native American to ever chair the Appropriations Committee, and is a champion for Indian Country, ensuring that Tribes receive the resources they need to take care of their communities.

Under both Republican and Democratic leadership, this Committee has continued to prioritize and support healthcare services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. I have no doubt that Chairman Cole will continue to advance this critical bipartisan effort as he continues to lead the Committee.  There is no one better for the job and I – as well as Ranking Member Pingree – stand by ready to help.

In FY 2023, Congress provided advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service for the first time.  Advance appropriations continue to provide the Indian health system with the certainty needed to properly serve communities, provide stability for health care providers, and improve long-term planning for services. I know this funding does not begin to meet the full need, but it’s a step in the right direction, and a signal of our understanding and commitment to upholding our trust and treaty responsibilities. For FY 2026, the President’s budget requests $7.9 billion in discretionary funding for IHS, maintaining funding for critical programs and fully funding OMB’s estimates for Contract Support Costs and 105(l) leases. 

Notably, the request does not include advance appropriations for FY 2027. As I mentioned before, this subcommittee is very proud of the work it has done on advance appropriations; to provide Tribes with a bit of certainty while relying on the federal government to support basic services.  I look forward to hearing a little more about this decision and how we can work together to ensure Tribes are taken care of under possible continuing resolution scenarios. I will continue to advocate for providing certainty to healthcare professionals and programs in Indian Country and, while not included in the request, I look forward to hearing how advance appropriations can continue to support planning and operations of IHS programs. 

Acting Director Smith, your leadership at IHS is vital to not only upholding our trust and treaty agreements but ensuring adequate and accessible healthcare to all Tribal members. Thank you again for joining us this morning, I look forward to our discussion. Now, I’d like to yield to Ranking Member Pingree for her opening statement.