[fcnl-nalu] Indian Tribes Have Own View of State of Nation

[Guest guest]

Topics include:

* State of Indian Nations Address 2005

* Composition of the House Resources Committee

 

 

NATIVE AMERICANS MAKE CASE FOR INCLUSION AND FAIRNESS

 

On February 3, Tex Hall, President of the National Congress

of American Indians (NCAI) gave the third annual " State of

Indian Nations " address, offering " a vision of hundreds of

Indian tribes protecting the future of our children, of our

families and of our elders. " At a media conference at the

National Press Club in Washington, DC, Hall gave an

overview of what is going well in Indian Country and laid out what

he sees as current challenges for policy makers.

 

Hall's address was in part a response to President Bush's

State of the Union address delivered the previous night.

His remarks also anticipated the release of the federal

budget for fiscal year 2006. Hall offered an " alternative "

budget developed collectively by NCAI and several other

national Native American organizations which often compete for

money for health, housing, education, law enforcement, and

economic development. He emphasized the importance of

leveraging Indian Country resources to promote healthy economies

and social progress. Hall illustrated how tribal

governments function to take care of their citizens just as local and

state governments do and explained the various extra

hurdles they face to carry out their vital tasks.

 

* To read the 2005 State of Indian Nations address on line,

go to

http://www.ncai.org/data/docs/media/2005/2005_soin_final.pdf

 

* To see a comparison compiled by FCNL of what President

Bush and President Hall said about the same topics such as

values go to

http://www.fcnl.org/issues/nat/stateofnation05.htm

 

* For an analysis of the two events (and to get more of the

flavor than could be given above), go to

http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1210 & issue_id=93

 

In developing an alternative budget for federal spending in

Indian Country in fiscal year 2006, NCAI worked with a

coalition of organizations. Among the 18 cooperating partners

were the National Indian Health Board, National Indian

Education Association, National American Indian Housing

Council, National Indian Council on Aging, National Tribal

Environmental Council, and the National Indian Head Starts Association. To assure fairness to the neediest, these

organizations seek champions such as Friends Committee on

National Legislation to lobby Congress.

 

To obtain a copy of the NCAI alternative budget, " FY 2006

Tribal Budget Request: Indian Country and the Federal

Budget, " go to

http://www.ncai.org/data/docs/legislative/2005/05_01_Presidents_Budget_Release1.\

pdf

 

 

What is the National Congress of American Indians? NCAI is

the oldest, largest, and most representative association of

tribes. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NCAI works on

behalf of 250 tribes across the country. NCAI's executive

committee is composed of four officers and twelve regional

representatives from different tribes.

 

Who is Tex G. Hall? Hall, chairman of the Mandan,

Hidatsa, Arikara Nation, is well known in his home state as a

cattle rancher and former teacher on the Fort Berthold

Reservation. He was recognized in 1995 as the North Dakota Indian

Educator of the Year. He has also been inducted into the

North Dakota Basketball Hall of Fame. His own congressional

representative, Earl Pomeroy (ND), sat on the front row as

Hall gave the State of Indian Nations address and supported

him vocally, especially the call for law enforcement funds

to protect native women from rape and violence.

 

 

COMPOSITION OF THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE

 

The Resources Committee handles Indian affairs in the House

of Representatives making it a crucial committee for our

work. Here are the members of that committee for the 109th

Congress.

 

Republicans:

 

Chairman Richard Pombo (CA), Don Young (AK), Jim Saxton

(NJ), Elton Gallegly (CA), John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN), Wayne T.

Gilchrest (MD), Ken Calvert (CA), Barbara Cubin (WY),

George P. Radanovich (CA), Walter B. Jones, Jr. (NC), Chris

Cannon (UT), John E. Peterson (PA), Jim Gibbons (NV), Greg

Walden (OR), Thomas G. Tancredo (CO), J.D. Hayworth (AZ), Jeff

Flake (AZ), Rick Renzi (AZ), Stevan Pearce (NM), Devin

Nunes (CA), Henry Brown (SC), Thelma Drake (VA), Luis Fortuno

(PR), Cathy McMorris (WA), Bobby Jindal (LA), Louie Gohmert

(TX).

 

Democrats:

 

Vice-Chairman Nick Rahll (WV), Dale E. Kildee (MI), Eni

F.H. Faleomavaega, (AS), Neil Abercrombie, (HI), Solomon P.

Ortiz (TX), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ), Donna M. Christensen

(VI), Ron Kind (WI), Grace F. Napolitano (CA), Tom Udall (NM),

Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ), Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Guam), Jim

Costa (CA), Charlie Melancon (LA), Dan Boren (OK), George

Miller (CA), Ed Markey (MA), Peter DeFazio (OR), Jay Inslee

(WA), Mark Udall (CO), Dennis Cardoza (CA), Stephanie Herseth

(SD).

 

 

CONTACTING POLICY MAKERS

 

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

 

Rep. ________

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

 

Sen. ________

U.S. Senate

Washington, DC 20510

 

President George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

 

White House Comment Desk:

202-456-1111

Fax: 202-456-2461

president

 

FCNL Native American Legislative Updates are intended as a

supplement to other FCNL materials and do not reflect

FCNL's complete policy position on any issue, nor do they

include all pertinent facts on any topic. For more information,

or to request the FCNL Indian Report and other background

documents, please contact the FCNL's Native American

Advocacy Program: (202) 547-6000, 245 2nd St. NE, Washington, DC

20002; Indian Or visit

http://www.fcnl.org/issues/nat/natindx.htm

 

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