42 CFR § 137.3 - Effect on existing Tribal rights.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s137.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 137.3 - Effect on existing Tribal rights."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "137.3"
section_name: "Effect on existing Tribal rights."
chapter_name: "PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "M"
subchapter_name: "INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
part_number: "137"
part_name: "TRIBAL SELF-GOVERNANCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "25 U.S.C. 458"
regulatory_source: "67 FR 35342, May 17, 2002, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "137"
---
# 137.3 Effect on existing Tribal rights.
Nothing in this part shall be construed as:
(a) Affecting, modifying, diminishing, or otherwise impairing the sovereign immunity from suit enjoyed by Indian Tribes;
(b) Terminating, waiving, modifying, or reducing the trust responsibility of the United States to the Indian Tribe(s) or individual Indians. The Secretary must act in good faith in upholding this trust responsibility;
(c) Mandating an Indian Tribe to apply for a compact(s) or grant(s) as described in the Act; or
(d) Impeding awards by other Departments and agencies of the United States to Indian Tribes to administer Indian programs under any other applicable law.