Sponsor
Jimmy Gomez
Representative · D-CA
Representative · D-CA
The bill secures guaranteed, predictable grant funding and specific award targets for tribes and Tribal Colleges—strengthening services, education, and inclusion in Indian Country—while reducing the share available to non‑tribal grantees and limiting allocation flexibility, with some capacity‑limited tribes potentially still missing out.
Indigenous tribal governments, tribal organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) receive a guaranteed 15% set‑aside of program funds each fiscal year, providing stable, targeted funding for tribal services and historically underserved tribal communities.
Tribal colleges and tribal organizations gain more predictable annual funding and capacity‑building support, strengthening education, service delivery, and institutional capacity in Native communities.
Tribal entities (governments, organizations, and TCUs) are guaranteed at least 10 dedicated grants, increasing direct funding opportunities and raising the baseline of tribal inclusion in award distributions.
State and local governments, nonprofits, and other non‑tribal applicants could receive fewer funds and smaller awards because 15% of program dollars and a share of grants are reserved for tribal recipients.
The statutory annual set‑aside reduces the Secretary's flexibility to reallocate funds in response to changing priorities or emergent needs, which may limit program responsiveness.
The requirement to award at least 10 tribal grants applies only if a 'sufficient number' of qualifying tribal applications are submitted, so tribes with limited grant‑writing capacity may still be left out.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Reserves 15% of specified grant funds annually for tribal entities and requires at least 10 grants to tribal entities when enough qualifying applications exist.
Official title: To provide a set-aside of funds for Indian populations under the health profession opportunity grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Jimmy Gomez · Last progress September 16, 2025
Reserves a fixed share of certain federal grant funds for Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities, and requires a minimum number of grants be awarded to those entities when qualifying applications exist. The changes apply each fiscal year and take effect October 1, 2025. The law amends existing Social Security Act grant authorities to (1) set aside 15% of specified funds annually for tribal recipients and (2) direct the Secretary to award at least 10 grants to tribal entities under a related grant program if enough qualifying applications are received.