Native Americans

As a Member of the Natural Resource Committee that has jurisdiction regarding Native American issues, I am given the responsibility to protect the Native American community. As a member of the Native American Caucus, I have additional resources to make me fully aware of the important issues facing the Native American community. In Congress, I vote on and sponsor legislation that will help, encourage and support the Native American community. As a friend, I have dedicated much of my life to serve as an advocate for Native Americans, and will continue to champion for what is best for the community.

As Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, I played an important role in authoring the Nutrition Title of the 2008 Farm Bill. This critical legislation included the largest expansion of on-reservation nutrition programs in the history of the USDA. I also worked with my colleagues to ensure this Farm Bill was the first ever to fully meet the needs of minority and socially disadvantaged farmers. Funding for outreach and service assistance to tribal and other minority farmers was significantly increased. In addition, the Farm Bill created long overdue transparency and accountability at the USDA in its services to minority farmers and ranchers.

Last Congress, in my role as CHC Chair I fought to include the contributions of Native Americans and Hispanics in the PBS documentary “The War.” During this time as CHC Chair – I also fought with my colleagues to beat back harmful English-only amendments that would have threatened the continued existence of native languages.

Below are additional issues concerning Native Americans that I have worked on this Congress:

History:

Since my work in the California legislature, I have advocated for our Nation and States to honor Native American culture and traditions by means of a day of recognition. This Congress, we have achieved this goal. My bill, H.J.Res. 40, the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009, passed the House and Senate with strong support, and was signed into law by President Obama. Because of this legislation, the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 27, 2009, was officially recognized as Native American Heritage Day.

Recovery Act:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which became law this February, includes a number of key provisions and funding initiatives to benefit the Native American community. In total, the Recovery Act included $2.5 billion in direct funding to Indian Tribes and, $2.4 billion in tax bonding authority for tribal economic development and Indian school construction. Significant areas include:

$500 Million for Indian Health Services;
$500 Million in funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
$510 Million for Indian Housing Block Grants;
$327 Million for the construction and upkeep of roads on Reservations;
$5 Million for Reservation Food Distribution Programs;
$10 Billion for grants to school districts serving low-income children, including tribal schools;
$1 Billion in Head Start program funding, including Indian Head Start Programs; and
$100 Million for Tribal school facilities under the Impact Aid program.

Additional Legislation to Benefit the Native American Community that I Support:

INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT - provides programs and services that make up the Indian health care delivery system. The Natural Resources Committee has passed this legislation in the House this Congress.

TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION – I worked to make sure that Transportation reauthorization proposal included improving existing programs relating to Indian Reservation roads and bridges.

INDIAN TAX STATUS ACT – I serve as a co-sponsor of this legislation which would allow Tribes, like States, to issue tax-exempt bonds for projects that serve an “essential governmental function.”

PENSION REFORM – I support pension reform plans that would ensure Tribal pension plans are given the same treatment as State sponsored government plans.

LAND INTO TRUST – CARCIERI v. SALAZAR – I support seeking a legislative fix in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling dated February 24, 2009, that Tribes not federally recognized as of 1934 cannot follow the land-into-trust process authorized by the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

COBELL v. SALAZAR – INDIAN TRUST FUNDS SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL – I supporter legislation passed by Congress passed to reform the Department of Interior’s handling of Indian trust assets. The Department spent several millions to update its accounting systems. Congress will be asked to authorize several millions for settlement legislation.

TRIBAL LAW & ORDER LEGISLATION – I support a comprehensive proposal to strengthen existing laws and to create new laws relating to tribal justice systems. Senator Dorgan taking the lead on this initiative as he is sponsor of the Senate bill.

INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS AMENDMENT ACT OF 2009 – I support this bill, which protects Indian products and goods from counterfeiters. This bill will allow for any federal law enforcement officer to investigate allegations with the same authority given originally to the FBI.

INDIAN LAND TAX CREDIT – I served as a co-signor on a Congressional letter requesting that the former Indian Lands Tax Credit and the Indian Employment Tax Credit be included in the House tax extenders package.

LETTER TO PRESIDENT REQUESTING PEPFAR FUNDING – I co-signed a Congressional letter to the President requesting his FY 2011 Budget include the funding authorized in Title VI of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. This funding would be used for desperately needed law enforcement, health care, and water projects benefitting American Indians and Alaska Natives.

LETTER TO INTERIOR SECRETARY SALAZAR – Co-signed a Congressional letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar requesting the Department to formulate policies that require tribes to have an ancestral or historic connection on lands that will be used for gaming. Current DOI’s interpretation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows for off-reservation gaming.

LETTER TO SENATE ON MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS – Co-signed a Congressional letter requesting increased funding for Minority Serving Institutions. Many undergraduate American Indian, African American, and Hispanic students rely on these institutions for their personal and professional development. These funds are offered as grants to be utilized for faculty and academic program development, management, use of libraries and laboratories, equipment attainment, and student services.

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH – I Was invited to and attended, along with 564 Tribes, a ceremony held at the US Department of the Interior.

Native Americans

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