This Native American Legislative Update provides information on
* Funding for programs that serve Native Americans in the fiscal year
2008 (FY08) budget;
* Updates on federal tribal recognition; and
* Reauthorization of legislation that affects Native Americans.
The amount of money that Congress is proposing to spend on Native
American programs is encouraging this year in comparison with previous
years, but much advocacy work remains to be done to update and fund
programs in Indian Country.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS
Most of the programs of interest to Native American advocates are found
in the Interior Appropriations bill. The House passed this bill (H.R.
2643) on June 27th. For a thorough bill summary, go to
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/InteriorHP.pdf. In the Senate, the
Interior Appropriation bill (S. 1696) passed the relevant appropriations
subcomittee and is now on the Senate Legislative calendar awaiting a
floor vote. We are pleased that action on the bill so far has increased
funding for some Native American programs.
Increases for Indian Health:
The FY08 House Interior Appropriations bill gives $3.384 billion to the
Indian Health Service, which is $204 million above the FY07 enacted
level and $114 million above the president's request for this year.
Within that amount is funding to restore urban health clinics, which the
president proposed not to fund. The bill also provides additional
funding for the psychological service programs connected with
methamphetamine prevention and treatment, an issue that has affected
many people in Indian Country.
The Senate Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations allocated $3.37
billion for the Indian Health Service, which is slightly lower than the
House version though still an increase over the FY07 enacted level and
the president's FY08 request.
Increases for Education:
The FY08 House Interior Appropriations bill would increase Indian
education funding by $39 million above the president's request and $41
million above FY07. This increase includes full restoration of the
Johnson O'Malley grant program that the administration tried to end or
curtail. The House would fund this supplemental assistance for Indian
students at public schools at its operating level in the amount of $16.5
million. Also included are increases for early childhood development
programs and scholarships.
The Senate Interior Appropriations bill includes $14.7 million in
funding for the Johnson O'Malley program. The bill includes other
increases to elementary and secondary Indian education as well. We will
let you know more details as they become available.
With regard to institutional operating funds for tribal colleges and
universities, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committee
rejected the president's recommendation to eliminate funding for the
nation's two Tribally Controlled Career and Technical Education
Institutions. Additionally, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved
a $5 million increase in funding for the nation's other 25
reservation-based tribal colleges and universities.
FEDERAL RECOGNITION
In a historic move, the House has agreed to recognize tribes that have
been blocked from going through the regular Interior recognition
process--six Virginia tribes and one North Carolina Tribe. The Thomasina
E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act (H.R. 1294)
and the Lumbee Recognition Act (H.R. 65) passed the House and were
referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where they await
further action. The Virginia tribes are recognized by Britain and the
state of Virginia but not by the U.S. government even though they were
among the first to interact with colonists.
REAUTHORIZATIONS
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1328/S. 1200):
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act has to be marked up by several
committees before it can go to the floor of the House and Senate. The
bill was reported out of the House Natural Resources Committee on April
25th and has gone to the Energy and Commerce Committee. After many years
of ignoring the IHCIA, the Health Subcommittee within Energy and
Commerce held a hearing on reauthorization on June 8th. The Senate
version of the bill was reported out of the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs on May 10th and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (H.R. 2786):
This bill would bring greater self-sufficiency and improvements to
housing programs on reservations. It has been introduced in the House,
was marked up by the House Financial Services Committee on June 26th,
and is ready for a floor vote. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
will hold a hearing on a draft bill on July 19th.
No Child Left Behind:
Little will happen on reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act
until September. Since amendments could affect Native children, the
National Indian Education Association has held listening sessions in
Indian Country. A hearing was held on April 28th in the House Education
and Labor Committee to discuss Title VII; recommendations were made to
better provide culturally appropriate educational approaches for Native
students.
ADDITIONAL HEARINGS
* Transportation hearing was held by the Senate (7/12)
* Law Enforcement hearings were held by the House (6/1) and Senate
(6/21)
For More Information.......
Senate hearing on hardships due to lack of adequate law enforcement--
http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&He
aring_ID=74
Indian Country Today article on law enforcement--
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415330
______________________
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/pubs/
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump
Contribute to FCNL:
http://www.fcnl.org/donate/
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______________________
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)630-1330
_______________________________________________
More on Native American legislation: http://www.fcnl.org/nativeam/
Give money to FCNL: http://www.fcnl.org/donate/
Contact Congress and the Administration: http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/
Subscribe to this and other FCNL email lists:
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=ls.
You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the fcnl-nalu email
list as tsb713@hotmail.com. If you wish to unsubscribe, send a message with the
word "unsubscribe" in the subject line to fcnl-nalu-unsubscribe@fcnl.org or
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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.
* Funding for programs that serve Native Americans in the fiscal year
2008 (FY08) budget;
* Updates on federal tribal recognition; and
* Reauthorization of legislation that affects Native Americans.
The amount of money that Congress is proposing to spend on Native
American programs is encouraging this year in comparison with previous
years, but much advocacy work remains to be done to update and fund
programs in Indian Country.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS
Most of the programs of interest to Native American advocates are found
in the Interior Appropriations bill. The House passed this bill (H.R.
2643) on June 27th. For a thorough bill summary, go to
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/InteriorHP.pdf. In the Senate, the
Interior Appropriation bill (S. 1696) passed the relevant appropriations
subcomittee and is now on the Senate Legislative calendar awaiting a
floor vote. We are pleased that action on the bill so far has increased
funding for some Native American programs.
Increases for Indian Health:
The FY08 House Interior Appropriations bill gives $3.384 billion to the
Indian Health Service, which is $204 million above the FY07 enacted
level and $114 million above the president's request for this year.
Within that amount is funding to restore urban health clinics, which the
president proposed not to fund. The bill also provides additional
funding for the psychological service programs connected with
methamphetamine prevention and treatment, an issue that has affected
many people in Indian Country.
The Senate Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations allocated $3.37
billion for the Indian Health Service, which is slightly lower than the
House version though still an increase over the FY07 enacted level and
the president's FY08 request.
Increases for Education:
The FY08 House Interior Appropriations bill would increase Indian
education funding by $39 million above the president's request and $41
million above FY07. This increase includes full restoration of the
Johnson O'Malley grant program that the administration tried to end or
curtail. The House would fund this supplemental assistance for Indian
students at public schools at its operating level in the amount of $16.5
million. Also included are increases for early childhood development
programs and scholarships.
The Senate Interior Appropriations bill includes $14.7 million in
funding for the Johnson O'Malley program. The bill includes other
increases to elementary and secondary Indian education as well. We will
let you know more details as they become available.
With regard to institutional operating funds for tribal colleges and
universities, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committee
rejected the president's recommendation to eliminate funding for the
nation's two Tribally Controlled Career and Technical Education
Institutions. Additionally, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved
a $5 million increase in funding for the nation's other 25
reservation-based tribal colleges and universities.
FEDERAL RECOGNITION
In a historic move, the House has agreed to recognize tribes that have
been blocked from going through the regular Interior recognition
process--six Virginia tribes and one North Carolina Tribe. The Thomasina
E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act (H.R. 1294)
and the Lumbee Recognition Act (H.R. 65) passed the House and were
referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where they await
further action. The Virginia tribes are recognized by Britain and the
state of Virginia but not by the U.S. government even though they were
among the first to interact with colonists.
REAUTHORIZATIONS
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1328/S. 1200):
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act has to be marked up by several
committees before it can go to the floor of the House and Senate. The
bill was reported out of the House Natural Resources Committee on April
25th and has gone to the Energy and Commerce Committee. After many years
of ignoring the IHCIA, the Health Subcommittee within Energy and
Commerce held a hearing on reauthorization on June 8th. The Senate
version of the bill was reported out of the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs on May 10th and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (H.R. 2786):
This bill would bring greater self-sufficiency and improvements to
housing programs on reservations. It has been introduced in the House,
was marked up by the House Financial Services Committee on June 26th,
and is ready for a floor vote. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
will hold a hearing on a draft bill on July 19th.
No Child Left Behind:
Little will happen on reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act
until September. Since amendments could affect Native children, the
National Indian Education Association has held listening sessions in
Indian Country. A hearing was held on April 28th in the House Education
and Labor Committee to discuss Title VII; recommendations were made to
better provide culturally appropriate educational approaches for Native
students.
ADDITIONAL HEARINGS
* Transportation hearing was held by the Senate (7/12)
* Law Enforcement hearings were held by the House (6/1) and Senate
(6/21)
For More Information.......
Senate hearing on hardships due to lack of adequate law enforcement--
http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&He
aring_ID=74
Indian Country Today article on law enforcement--
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415330
______________________
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/pubs/
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump
Contribute to FCNL:
http://www.fcnl.org/donate/
Unsubscribe from this list:
Send a message to fcnl-nalu-unsubscribe@fcnl.org, or send an email to
lizw@fcnl.org with your request.
Subscribe to this list:
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)630-1330
_______________________________________________
More on Native American legislation: http://www.fcnl.org/nativeam/
Give money to FCNL: http://www.fcnl.org/donate/
Contact Congress and the Administration: http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/
Subscribe to this and other FCNL email lists:
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=ls.
You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the fcnl-nalu email
list as tsb713@hotmail.com. If you wish to unsubscribe, send a message with the
word "unsubscribe" in the subject line to fcnl-nalu-unsubscribe@fcnl.org or
visit http://lists101.his.com/mailman/listinfo/fcnl-nalu
______________________
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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