Resolution #SAC-12-039
TITLE: Support for Adequate Health Care Resources for Tribal Citizens and Support for and Improved Cooperation between Health Care, Education and Law Enforcement Providers When Coordination can Improve the Quality of Life for Tribal Citizens
WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the health, safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and
WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, health care, including mental health, has become a chronically underfunded component of life for many Tribal citizens and Tribal Nations; and
WHEREAS, continued attention is being paid to health care in the United States as a result of the passage, in 2010, of the Affordable Care Act, which included the permanent renewal of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; and
WHEREAS, the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and the affirmation of the constitutionality of that Act by the Supreme Court of the United States, provides new opportunities for improvement in health care for the Tribal populations of the United States, through such things as state health insurance exchanges and provisions preventing health insurance companies from discontinuing coverage due to pre-existing conditions; and
WHEREAS, Congress needs to adequately fund health care for the Tribal population, as guaranteed by solemn treaties between the Tribal Nations and the United States; and
WHEREAS, provision of health care includes the need for cooperation between health care providers, education providers, social services and law enforcement officials so that all can receive the services they need when they need it: for example, so that a sexual assault victim receives the health care she needs; so that a child who is identified as being sick at school can receive the health care he or she needs; so that a person identified as having a mental or chronic illness by a social worker can receive the health care he or she needs, and so forth.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NCAI hereby urges Congress to provide comprehensive health care coverage for the Tribal populations of the United States; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NCAI urges all federally funded health care programs to collaborate, cooperate, and coordinate in the provision of services so that health care that benefits American Indians and Alaska Native or tribal nations needs can be readily identified and appropriate health care solutions provided to all those who need them; and further, Congress is urged to provide adequate resources and training to allow such collaboration to take place as needed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the executive branch of government is encouraged to provide continued information and assistance to Tribal governments, Tribal organizations and Tribal citizens regarding the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, in light of the recent Supreme Court decision, so that everyone who is eligible to receive a benefit from that law and decision can in fact receive that benefits; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.
CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2012 Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Sacramento Convention Center from October 21-26, 2012 in Sacramento, California, with a quorum present.
President
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary