Friends Committee on National Legislation
A Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest
Indian Appointments to the Transition Team
President-Elect Barack Obama has appointed six Native Americans to his transition team. One of them, Keith Harper (Cherokee), was an attorney who represented Elouise Cobell in her lawsuit against the federal government. In her suit, Cobell (Blackfeet) accused the government of mismanaging $176 billion in Indian trust assets. The other Native Americans on Obama's transition team are Yvette Roubideau (Rosebud Sioux), John Echohawk (Pawnee), Robert Anderson (Chippewa), Mary C. Smith (Cherokee), and Mary McNeil (Winnebago). These Native appointments are auspicious for Indian Country. If they translate into real Indian leadership, they could lead to greater attention for issues like Indian health, tribal justice, and land rights.
Daschle an Advocate for Indian Health Care
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Obama's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has been a strong supporter of Indian health care. As a senator from South Dakota, he cosponsored legislation that authorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Daschle's website once stated, "Although both treaty and statute 'guarantee' Indians access to health care, Congress has grossly underfunded the Indian Health Service for decades, so much so that patients are routinely denied care that most of us would take for granted and, in many cases, consider essential." Clearly, Daschle is very familiar with Native American issues, and FCNL hopes to see him carry this awareness forward into his new position.
Economic Stimulus for Native Americans
Indians, like all underserved Americans, are being hit the hardest in these tough financial times. Native American advocates are working to ensure that Obama's promised economic stimulus package addresses their community's needs.
Meanwhile, several senators are seeking to increase the financial resources for Indian Country in the budget for fiscal year 2010. Obama's budget proposal is due to Congress the first week of February. Sens. John Thune (SD), Jon Kyl (AZ), Jon Tester (MT), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Pete Domenici (NM), Tim Johnson (SD), and Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (ND) signed a letter to President George W. Bush requesting $400 million to address the tremendous lack of resources for tribal justice, health care, and water projects. They plan on sending a similar letter to Obama.
Coming Soon: A Tool to Educate Others on Native American Issues
Members of Congress who do not have Native Americans in their district may not sponsor legislation helpful to Indians unless non-Indian constituents contact them. We hope that you will help Native Americans by educating others in your meetings and organizations. To support your efforts, FCNL is working on a fact sheet that will help you present basic facts on Native issues. Look for it in your next Indian Report.
No comments:
Post a Comment