FHBC chairwoman Thompson testifies at Native American Witness Days in Washington D.C.
FHBC Chairwoman Donna Thompson (right) meets with Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo.
By MICHAEL STEELE
Tribal Policy Analyst
WASHINGTON D.C. — Fort Hall Business Council Chairwoman Donna Thompson traveled to Washington D.C. from March 17-18 to testify on behalf of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes during Native American Witness Days hosted by the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations, chaired by Congressman Mike Simpson.
During her testimony, Thompson continued her advocacy to increase funding and staffing for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Thompson explained, “Funding for IHS should be made fully mandatory to truly uphold the federal Treaty and Trust responsibility.” She also offered, “With a 35% vacancy rate, it is critical that IHS fix the broken hiring process…” and requested congressional oversight to ensure IHS focuses on improving health care services.
Addressing BIA staffing issues, Thompson testified to the sub-committee, “Deferred resignation programs carried out in the name of efficiency have only resulted in less capacity to provide basic services. This is extremely frustrating for our tribal members. Many have received late lease payments or have not yet received payments that they rely on to put food on their tables. I hear about this daily.” She then asked the sub-committee to take steps to ensure that the BIA has capacity to fulfill its responsibilities.
Thompson also met with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and discussed the importance of Medicaid for tribal members. She also thanked him for playing a key role funding the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, preserving the Native Community Development Financial Institution (Native CDFI) program, and supporting the Native American Seeds Act that will protect the cultural, spiritual, and environmental legacy of traditional plants.
During an office call with Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Thompson thanked him for his leadership securing funding for the new fire station, Eagle Road improvements, and the Sheepskin water tank replacement project.
With an expected busy fire season, they also discussed ensuring the Department of Interior maintains capacity to fight wildland fires. Firefighting discussions continued while meeting with staff members from Sen. Jim Risch’s (R-Idaho) office, and Thompson expressed the Tribes’ appreciation for Sen. Risch’s focus and efforts to keep federal lands federal.
Chairwoman Thompson concluded the trip by meeting with Brian Mercier, Director of the BIA, seeking assistance to address the Tribes’ probate backlog, process fee to trust applications, and resolve the Eastern boundary issue. She also received an update on BIA reorganization efforts. After explaining that a growing list of probate cases is unacceptable, Mercier expressed his willingness to support providing additional resources to the Tribes to tackle the probate backlog.
Over the coming weeks, Tribal government staff will coordinate with the Tribes’ contracted federal lobbyists to ensure the discussions in Washington D.C. lead to meaningful results.
