The Pascua Yaqui Indian people who are members of the Pascua Yaqui Association, Incorporated, an Arizona corporation, or who hereafter become members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in accordance with section
1300f–2 of this title, are recognized as, and declared to be, eligible, on and after September 18, 1978, for the services and assistance provided to Indians because of their status as Indians by or through any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, or under any statute of the United States. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe, a historic Indian tribe, is acknowledged as a federally recognized Indian tribe possessing all the attributes of inherent sovereignty which have not been specifically taken away by Acts of Congress and which are not inconsistent with such tribal status. For the purposes of section
2005a of title
42, the Pascua Yaqui Indians are to be considered as if they were being provided hospital and medical care by or at the expense of the Public Health Service on August 16, 1957.