| Native American Legislative Update: May 16, 2007 FCNL: Lots of Activity in Congress Here is a summary of recent congressional activity related to Native American Issues: * The Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 1200/ H.R. 1328) was introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (ND) in the Senate and Representative Frank Pallone (NJ) in the House. This bill would provide more access and update health programs in Indian Country. The House Committee on Natural Resources sent H.R. 1328 forward on April 25 and the Senate sent S. 1200 forward May 10. Both bills must now be approved by other committees. * The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007 (S. 310) was introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka (HI). The legislation would establish a policy regarding the U.S. relationship with Native Hawaiians; at present, Native Hawaiians are not federally recognized as an indigenous group comparable to American Indians and Native Alaskans. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved the bill last week. In prior congresses, versions of this legislation reached the floor three times but were never voted on. Since this legislation was first considered in 2000, nine hearings have been held. H.R. 505 is the companion bill. * The Native American Apology Resolution (S.J. Res. 4) was introduced by Republican Senator Sam Brownback (KS) who has advocated for an apology for a number of years. This resolution would acknowledge ill-conceived policies and offer an apology on the part of the U.S. government to all native peoples. The resolution was approved in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and is set to go to the floor. The companion bill, H.J.Res.3, was introduced by Representative Jo Ann Davis (VA). * The Hawaiian Home Ownership Act of 2007 (H.R. 835), introduced by Representative Neil Abercrombie (HI), passed the full House in March. This reauthorization bill would increase affordable housing and loans for home ownership for low-income Hawaiians; the estimated cost is $39 million. Senator Inouye (HI) successfully moved the bill through the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs last week. * The Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1439), introduced by Senator Dale Kildee (MI), passed the full house May 2. The bill would establish a 3.5 percent set-aside for Indian Head Start, up from the current level of 2.7 percent. Its companion bill in the Senate, the Head Start for School Readiness Act (S. 556), introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), is likely to come to the floor in the next couple of weeks. * The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Recognition Act (H.R. 1294), introduced by Representative James Moran (VA), passed the full House on May 8. The bill would grant six Virginia tribes formal federal recognition but prohibits the tribes from having gaming enterprises. Inexplicably, the U.S. does not recognize the tribes that greeted the Jamestown and other colonists 400 years ago, although they are state-recognized and recognized by England. A bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate. ______________________ Contact Congress and the Administration: http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/ Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" bumper stickers and yard signs: http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump Contribute to FCNL: Send a message to fcnl-nalu-subscribe@fcnl.org, or visit http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=ls and select the fcnl-nalu list. Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists: http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=ls ______________________ Friends Committee on National Legislation 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795 fcnl@fcnl.org * www.fcnl.org phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800
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Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org
phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330
We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
We seek a society with equity and justice for all
We seek a community where every person's
potential may be fulfilled
We seek an earth restored.
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