mmpc - National Indian Health Board

Dear Tribal Leader:
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
October 19, 20 12
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been a leader in the federal
government's efforts to improve its partnership with tribes. I am proud of our current
government-to-government relationship with tribes from across the country. HHS continuously
strives to find innovative and meaningful ways to work with you and your communities. One
mechanism to ensure this collaboration is our Tribal Consultation Policy (TCP).
At the very start of this administration, I requested your feedback and input with updating our
TCP. I then created a federal tribal workgroup to coordinate all of your comments and
recommendations. As a result of that work, in December 201 0, I signed the updated TCP. In
that revision, HHS committed to evaluating that policy every few years, and that is why I write
you today.
In accordance with that policy, HHS has conducted tribal consultation in a variety of ways over
the years, including: conference calls; direct correspondence to tribal leadership; meetings with
tribal leadership at the local, area, or national levels; and national and regional consultations.
Tribal leaders have indicated their agreement with current HHS policy, but we are always
looking to make improvements.
I am interested in your thoughts and views regarding our current TCP. I would appreciate it if
you would take the time to review and evaluate our TCP and provide your feedback on what is
working, what isn't, and what we can do to improve our activities to ensure meaningful tribal
consultation policy. This will greatly assist us in our evaluation of the policy. Here is the link to
our current policy for your review: http:ll~~ww.hhs.gov/intergovernmental/tribal/tcp.html.
I ask that you provide us with your feedback by submitting your comments by Friday,
December 7,2012. Comments can be sent to:
Stacey Ecoffey, Principal Advisor for Tribal Affairs
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave SW Room 620-E
Washington, DC 2020 1
Email: Consultation~,hhs.gov
If you have further questions or concerns please feel free to contact Stacey Ecoffey, Principal
Advisor for Tribal Affairs, via email at Stacev.Ecoffey@,hhs.aov or via phone at (202) 690-6060.
Thank you in advance for your contribution and commitment to a strong HIIS Tribal
Consultation Policy. 1 look forward to our continued partnership.
Gthleen Sebelius