FHBC Vice Chair Thompson testifies to U.S. House Interior & Environment Subcommittee
Fort Hall Business Council Vice Chairwoman Donna Thompson with Coeur
d’Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allen on February 25 in Washington D.C.
By OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON — Fort Hall Business Council Vice Chairwoman Donna Thompson testified to the U.S. House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations on February 25, on behalf of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
The committee is chaired by Congressman Mike Simpson (R)-Idaho, who in his opening statements said it was an unprecedented number of requests from 100 Tribes and Tribal organizations.
“These hearings are incredibly important, and we appreciate the opportunity to hear from so many Tribes and organizations across from Indian Country,” said Simpson. “Indian Country has been and will continue to be a bipartisan priority of this of this subcommittee.”
Thompson thanked Simpson for his long-standing efforts on behalf of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Indian Country.
She shared the Tribes’ concerns that funding for the Tribes is part of the federal government’s Trust and Treaty responsibility and is at risk. Likewise, the ongoing hiring freeze, coupled with the firing of federal employees, cannot cause disruptions to Tribal program funding or impact federal workers supporting Indian Country.
Limited to a five-minute testimony, Thompson focused on protecting funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), increasing law enforcement funding, and supporting drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs.
Addressing IHS and BIA funding, Thompson highlighted the importance of advanced appropriations, urging the committee to make funding for IHS and BIA mandatory and to include contract support costs. She also emphasized the importance of preserving Medicaid to help meet the responsibility to provide healthcare to Indian Country.
“Approximately 50 percent of Tribal members on our reservation are enrolled in Medicaid. Reimbursements are critical for Tribal Health and HIS clinics. While we understand that this subcommittee does not have jurisdiction over Medicaid, any cuts will have significant negative consequences for Indian Health systems. We ask that this subcommittee work to make sure Medicaid funding is protected for Tribes,” said Thompson.
Thompson asked the committee to include in the appropriations bill provisions to increase law enforcement funding. She explained that underfunding is causing a shortage of officers in Fort Hall, with officers facing challenging conditions patrolling the reservation, resulting in burnout and the continued loss of officers who leave the Fort Hall Police Department for agencies with less stress and better pay and benefits.
While asking for increased funding for infrastructure needs, Thompson explained that water pressure on the Reservation is often low and doesn’t meet firefighting standards in some areas. Additionally, residential wells are running dry. She expressed the need for new water towers and upgraded water distribution lines. The same can be said with wastewater as the system is in poor condition, with pipes needing to be replaced and lift stations added.
Vice-Chairwoman Thompson concluded by asking for continued support to reclaim the Gay Mine Superfund site.
Chairman Chief Allen of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho was the second to testify.
Throughout the hearings, other tribes echoed these same concerns. Other topics highlighted were increasing funding for education and the Johnson O’Malley Program, addressing environmental issues on reservations, fixing housing shortages, addressing other infrastructure shortfalls, including funding road improvements, restoring Salmon to the Columbia River Basin, and providing funding for care facilities and treatment centers for tribal elders.
A recording of Vice Chair Thompson’s testimony can be seen at the following link, at the seven-minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0lxTsG9fI0
