Press Release: National Congress of American Indians welcomes movement on Indian Country funding bill

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NCAI on the Passage of the DOI Appropriations Bill

The following is the text of a July 24, 2025, press release from the National Congress of American Indians.

NCAI commends the efforts of Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and their colleagues in the House for ensuring tribal priorities and programs are supported in this spending bill. As the Senate continues its parallel appropriations process, NCAI calls on the Senate to conform its appropriations levels to those of the House.

“This legislation is meaningful progress in honoring the federal government’s obligations to Tribal Nations,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “The bottom line is that the House Appropriations Committee, under Chairman Cole’s and Ranking Member DeLauro’s leadership, kept their commitment to Indian Country and presented a budget that supports critical programs and reflects the priorities of tribal governments.”

This appropriations bill is a step in the correct direction, though NCAI acknowledges that even with these impactful levels of funding, Indian Country continues to be widely underfunded. NCAI looks forward to hosting the Tribal Interior Budget Council next month to discuss FY 2026 funding levels and will begin the formulation of its FY 2028 budget request to the Department of Interior. NCAI also looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Congress when they return from recess to ensure that this bill is enacted quickly. Tribal Nations are negatively impacted by the continuing resolution process, and quick passage of a robust appropriations bill will ensure that Tribal Nations can continue to deliver essential services to their communities without interruption.