The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this afternoon on the fiscal year 2014 budget request for tribal programs.

The committee first heard from Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Yvette Roubideaux, the director of the Indian Health Service. Both faced criticism about a proposal offered by President Barack Obama to change the way their agencies fund contract support costs in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Salazar v. Ramah Navajo Chapter.

The Obama administration won't be seeking enough funds to pay 100 percent of contract support costs as required by the decision. Instead, the agencies plan to provide Congress with a "funding table" that lists each self-determination contract, an idea that drew fire from Democrats and Republicans on the committee.

The committee also heard from a panel of tribal witnesses. Audio can be downloaded below:

Committee Notice:
OVERSIGHT HEARING "The President's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget for Tribal Programs." (April 24, 2013)

Interior Department FY2014 Budget Documents:
Strengthening Tribal Nations | Indian Affairs | Budget in Brief

Health and Human Services Department FY2014 Budget Documents:
Budget in Brief [Includes IHS]

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