Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 458aaa of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Another section 501 of Pub. L. 93–638 was renumbered section 801 and is classified to section 5421 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–260, §13, Aug. 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 734, provided that: "Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this Act [enacting this subchapter, amending sections 5321, 5324, and 5325 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 5301 and 5321 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under former section 450f of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 18, 2000]."

Findings

Pub. L. 106–260, §2, Aug. 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 711, provided that: "Congress finds that—

"(1) the tribal right of self-government flows from the inherent sovereignty of Indian tribes and nations;

"(2) the United States recognizes a special government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes, including the right of the Indian tribes to self-governance, as reflected in the Constitution, treaties, Federal statutes, and the course of dealings of the United States with Indian tribes;

"(3) although progress has been made, the Federal bureaucracy, with its centralized rules and regulations, has eroded tribal self-governance and dominates tribal affairs;

"(4) the Tribal Self-Governance Demonstration Project, established under title III of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ([Pub. L. 93–638, former] 25 U.S.C. 450f note) was designed to improve and perpetuate the government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States and to strengthen tribal control over Federal funding and program management;

"(5) although the Federal Government has made considerable strides in improving Indian health care, it has failed to fully meet its trust responsibilities and to satisfy its obligations to the Indian tribes under treaties and other laws; and

"(6) Congress has reviewed the results of the Tribal Self-Governance Demonstration Project and finds that transferring full control and funding to tribal governments, upon tribal request, over decision making for Federal programs, services, functions, and activities (or portions thereof)—

"(A) is an appropriate and effective means of implementing the Federal policy of government-to-government relations with Indian tribes; and

"(B) strengthens the Federal policy of Indian self-determination."

Declaration of Policy

Pub. L. 106–260, §3, Aug. 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 712, provided that: "It is the policy of Congress—

"(1) to permanently establish and implement tribal self-governance within the Department of Health and Human Services;

"(2) to call for full cooperation from the Department of Health and Human Services and its constituent agencies in the implementation of tribal self-governance—

"(A) to enable the United States to maintain and improve its unique and continuing relationship with, and responsibility to, Indian tribes;

"(B) to permit each Indian tribe to choose the extent of its participation in self-governance in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] relating to the provision of Federal services to Indian tribes;

"(C) to ensure the continuation of the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes and Indian individuals;

"(D) to affirm and enable the United States to fulfill its obligations to the Indian tribes under treaties and other laws;

"(E) to strengthen the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribes through direct and meaningful consultation with all tribes;

"(F) to permit an orderly transition from Federal domination of programs and services to provide Indian tribes with meaningful authority, control, funding, and discretion to plan, conduct, redesign, and administer programs, services, functions, and activities (or portions thereof) that meet the needs of the individual tribal communities;

"(G) to provide for a measurable parallel reduction in the Federal bureaucracy as programs, services, functions, and activities (or portion thereof) are assumed by Indian tribes;

"(H) to encourage the Secretary to identify all programs, services, functions, and activities (or portions thereof) of the Department of Health and Human Services that may be managed by an Indian tribe under this Act [see Short Title of 2000 Amendments note set out under section 5301 of this title] and to assist Indian tribes in assuming responsibility for such programs, services, functions, and activities (or portions thereof); and

"(I) to provide Indian tribes with the earliest opportunity to administer programs, services, functions, and activities (or portions thereof) from throughout the Department of Health and Human Services."