Support for Ending the HIV Epidemic in Indian Country

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:                                 Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
2020-10	Health	Nick Lewis	Support for Ending the HIV Epidemic in Indian Country				X

 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 10 

“SUPPORT FOR ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN INDIAN COUNTRY” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and constitution of the United States and several states, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise to promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) are representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and specific tribal concerns; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, and Alaska; and 

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of the ATNI; and 

WHEREAS, more than 700,000 lives, and at least 2,019 American Indian and Alaska Native lives, have been lost to HIV in the United States since 1981; and 

WHEREAS, more than 1.1 million Americans, and at least 3,035 AI/AN people, are currently living with HIV; and

WHEREAS, from 2013 through 2017 rates of new diagnosis of HIV for AI/AN people increased to 7.8 per 100,000 – although rates of new HIV diagnosis decreased or stayed stable for all other racial and ethnic groups; and 

WHEREAS, without intervention many more AI/AN people will be newly diagnosed over the next 10 years – despite the available tools to prevent infections; and 

WHEREAS, the United States has trust and treaty obligations to provide healthcare to AI/AN people; and 

WHEREAS, on February 5, 2019, President Donald J. Trump in his State of the Union announced his Administration’s goal to end the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years; and 

WHEREAS, to achieve the goal and address the ongoing public health crisis of HIV, the proposed Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America will leverage the powerful data and tools now available to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent in five years and by 90 percent by 2030; and 

WHEREAS, in order for tribes and AI/AN people to be included in the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America funding must be allocated to tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs to develop infrastructure and systems to diagnose, treat, prevent and respond to the HIV Epidemic; and 

WHEREAS, $25 million was proposed in the President’s Indian Health Service budget for FY 2020 for HIV and viral hepatitis C (HCV) as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America and final appropriations for the Indian Health Service for FY 2020 did not include HIV and HCV funding; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI is deeply concerned that lack of funding for Ending the HIV Epidemic in Indian Country will likely lead to continued HIV and HCV health disparities and health outcomes for AI/AN people; and 

WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Human Services is subject to trust and treaty obligations and must ensure funding is available to tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI fully supports HIV and viral hepatitis C (HCV) funding as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America in Indian Country; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI calls on the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Indian Health Service and its other agencies, for inclusion of tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs in future budgets and national initiatives; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI calls upon Congress to fully fund tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs to develop infrastructure and systems to diagnose, treat, prevent and respond to HIV and HCV as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

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