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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI
</span><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Legislative and Administrative update below<span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">President Trump Declares Opioid Crisis a Public Health Emergency<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On Thursday, October 26th, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. "We can be the generation that ends the opioid
epidemic," said President Trump, who later signed a presidential memorandum directing his acting health secretary to declare a nationwide public health emergency and ordering all federal agencies to take measures to reduce the number of opioid deaths. According
to the White House's <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_rtocZgWj7JsQU_xdQfjJNxMj7ChqkfbQEyHanBGDo3YrOObm1FPoNSkWs2foHjJ5lbqwVFrtyZM2dQ8AOWXOoOGyvHyd1nDqBLwPolM30qouEHg01drH6X0ESabqmXGiBNtYqONwLMupWRfs0Ms3DDqZyJtnFPjG_-GEAX_wLILHwGDNUjnAtjaPAfivAd5jcBHp7d1kOkY2DutdOgvUAM1tfyOjG8P930XjkpdfGwRMeMDRnoC9t0pkT1jjz5XC&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">press
release</span></a>, President Trump's directive will: Allow patients further access to "telemedicine" so they can receive prescriptions without seeing a doctor; make grants available to those who have had trouble finding work due to addiction; allow the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) to hire more people to address the crisis, particularly in rural areas; and allow states to shift federal funds from HIV treatments to opioids, since the two are linked as drug users often share infected needles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">A Public Health declaration does not come with additional funding, however, it would enable federal agencies to bypass "bureaucratic delays" and
redirect existing funding to efforts aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. No additional funding is allocated through the Presidential Memorandum and the HHS Public Health Emergency Fund currently sits at $57,000, so the Trump Administration will need
to work with Congress to approve additional funding in a year end spending package. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">President Trump announced that the administration will push efforts to overturn the 16 bed limit for in-patient treatment facilities that currently
exists, as a well as plans to commence a prevention advertising campaign. Tribes have been seeking revisions to the 16-bed limitation and passed a resolution that addresses this issue at NCAI's Annual Convention held in Milwaukee last week. American Indian
and Alaska Native populations are disproportionately affected by opioid addiction. National data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that death rates involving opioid pain relievers for American Indians and Alaska Natives were
up to three times higher than rates for other racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally vulnerable groups include those affected by trauma, such as veterans, as well as populations that are more likely to be exposed to opioid pain killers: elders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">As a result, NCAI has taken several actions to address this growing epidemic. During the 2017 Mid-Year Conference in June 2017, NCAI officially
reestablished its Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force. The task force, which most recently met during the Annual Conference earlier this month, is focused on sharing successful practices, creating solutions, and examining the impact that this borderless
disease has on Indian Country. During the meeting, the task force heard from the Director of the Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy at SAMHSA, the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health at IHS, and the BIA's Opioid Task Force on agency efforts to reduce
opioid addiction. In addition, NCAI passed two resolutions, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_rSrbhU2CRyPTkG8yzO65LWxfyHhv3HW3pZCzjOwc-p91OgdgXLxgxMXAG_63wcKwhkdKQ-YQkY0zbHtMXsQDvcVXYAOzfWpNx9AGgrxwqVhpFVX7Qy32N3BrIIM-9Q5kHgZYgSawrNEGPb3zEijtE-Y4byvo5xickU9L9YGOPkVA-I5BwrUrplrWzllPCEsPtXHg-BpAYnwPTaShV1HYDJZKlQY8Cu4QvB3HRVN7Zkg=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">MKE-17-039</span></a> and <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_D1HNdl0Eiv6gTiXh-_j6jnKBW1mBJo2PULnBClE-o0kk3E0Z_TpciabTCz7Qrw-R0CVCDDp91JGjvbBdDMfp_OgL2ogUgYS5O3byiuPOqO9F8LiiMV4J9N7mm62YP4DGrWPQz3X3lClOuMooAGk4K8Xl3iT_Zj0sIjA98P5Ck4RvAJQ7NA251t7vvKBn0P2F1kFmbmRCdN301_tz8sWcWxIjIzGtP_LLBIRjf3s80k8=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">MKE-17-040</span></a>,
addressing the opioid crisis during its annual conference last week. The first resolution calls for NCAI to support the adoption of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain by Indian Health Service
and Tribal Health Organizations to reduce opioid addiction, overdose and death of American Indian and Alaska Native people. The second resolution calls for NCAI to support legislation to amend the Social Security Act in order to achieve more favorable substance
abuse and mental health outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, which was established in March, released an <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_Pexpltj2bWHWauzRqQ0HwKuztrWKghSDjuc1LUqLTdQT7PJ2O5eDoC9hssKS-LA6ZG_uD59EqoCzPiOMxpF8P6IgZ8HgoHZx5WFabWPnuNfJ6XDPO2MRM3iP4N0CVYPlCLkl0wg2LzfO0ubL0bfyD24isRwjCagwBTGXooQ5R6SaWT_yqB40qemyCDC1T4bFQAnsq738lbw=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">interim
report</span></a> in July 2017, and is planning on releasing their final recommendations next week. NCAI will follow up with congress and the White House on providing direct appropriations for the hardest hit population per capita.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Denise Desiderio, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy
Director</span></em>, <a href="mailto:ddesiderio@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">ddesiderio@ncai.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#8C2000">30 October, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C">IN THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE & </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C">ADMINISTRATIVE</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C"> UPDATE</span></strong><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Update</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#ncaires"><span style="color:#A20000">NCAI 2017 ANNUAL RESOLUTIONS POSTED TO WEBSITE</span></a>
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<a href="#farmco"><span style="color:#A20000">NATIVE FARM BILL COALITION, NOW ACCEPTING TRIBAL RESOLUTIONS</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Congressional Update</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">APPROPRIATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#budg"><span style="color:#A20000">House Passes Budget Resolution</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">INTRODUCED LEGISLATION<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#pubsafbill"><span style="color:#A20000">Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act (S. 1986)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#Taxbills"><span style="color:#A20000">Tribal Economic Assistance Act (S. 2012) & The Tribal Tax Reform Act (S. 1935)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#hcprops"><span style="color:#A20000">Competing Proposals to Stabilize U.S. Healthcare System Floated in Congress</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#wireless"><span style="color:#A20000">Bill on Wireless Infrastructure Permitting (S. 1988)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#NAHER"><span style="color:#A20000">Native American Heritage Month Resolution</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">REAUTHORIZATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#opioid"><span style="color:#A20000">House to Consider CHIP Reauthorization Bill this Week</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#FCC"><span style="color:#A20000">House Subcommittee pushes Reauthorization of FCC</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">HEARINGS HELD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#empow"><span style="color:#A20000">American Indian Empowerment Act of 2017 (H.R. 215)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#pubsaf"><span style="color:#A20000">SCIA Legislative Hearing on Public Safety Bills</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">UPCOMING HEARINGS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <a href="#subsis"><span style="color:#A20000">Senate Subcommittee Oversight - Native American Subsistence Rights - Oct. 31</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#TAXHEAR"><span style="color:#A20000">SCIA Oversight - Tax Policies - Nov. 1</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#TRIO"><span style="color:#A20000">House Subcommittee Legislative - H.R. 221 (Hydrographic), S. 140 (Apache) - Nov. 2</span></a> <a href="#STOP"><span style="color:#A20000">SCIA
Legislative - S. 1400 (STOP Act) and S. 465 (Audit of IHS) - Nov. 8</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Administration Update</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#opioid"><span style="color:#A20000">PRESIDENT'S DECLARATION OF OPIOID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY</span></a>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">ISSUED MEMORANDA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#drone"><span style="color:#A20000">President Issues a Memorandum to Form Drone Partnership Pilot Program</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#relig"><span style="color:#A20000">Attorney General Releases Memo on "Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberties"</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NOMINATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#tara"><span style="color:#A20000">White House Nomination for the DOI's Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Post</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#robweav"><span style="color:#A20000">President Nominates Robert Weaver to Serve as Indian Health Service Director</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#usda"><span style="color:#A20000">USDA Consultation on the Office of Tribal Relations and Agency Reorganization</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#bie"><span style="color:#A20000">Bureau of Indian Education Announces Strategic Plan and Tribal Consultations </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#doilis"><span style="color:#A20000">DOI Hosts Listening Session on Fee to Trust Proposal at NCAI Annual Conference</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">COMMENTS DUE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#doi"><span style="color:#A20000">Comments Due Today on the DOI's ANPRM on Trade and Commerce in Indian Country</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#ihs"><span style="color:#A20000">Comments on IHS Strategic Plan due Tomorrow</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="#DOT"><span style="color:#A20000">U.S. DOT Seeks Public Comments on Draft Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="ncaires"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1033" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="ncaires"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Resolutions Posted</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The action on the sixty-seven resolutions considered at the 2017 Annual Convention are posted online and available
for download </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZp34tckG8R8XMlrOflUrd-3xey-5blKrEQbI60qADRW13zujzAdpDdsCjXsNHmeQ5_DNgsiVzhcL9qCf5qFRjZFLUCV39eDyYZNybtcbpQwEKPvBP0bRUOuOuKffntKV-q8vK4B9ox64=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI would like to thank the tribal leaders who vetted each of these resolutions on behalf of Indian Country
as well as the sponsors who put forward the policy positions for consideration through NCAI's resolution process. NCAI also thanks the committee chairs for their service to NCAI and Indian Country. These resolutions are the result of debate and deliberation
on issues of concern to tribes and reflect the consensus of tribes on some of the most important issues facing tribal governments today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Amber
Ebarb, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"> Budget and Policy Analyst</span></em>, </span></span><a href="mailto:amber_ebarb@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">amber_ebarb@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="farmco"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1034" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="farmco"></span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Native Farm Bill Coalition Announced, Now Accepting Tribal Resolutions</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">At NCAI's Annual Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, NCAI announced it will be joining the Native Farm Bill Coalition. The Farm Bill addresses
food, agriculture, conservation and rural development programs. Congress is expected to take on this major piece of legislation in 2018 and in advance of that national discussion, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and their Seeds of Native Health initiative
is forming a Native Farm Bill Coalition to bring the Tribal Voice to this important legislative debate. The Native Farm Bill Coalition is also asking Tribal Nations to join the coalition and make their voices heard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">For more information on the coalition, click
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZ69IJIhNQ6jZLSNajfZbgTHqG5P_0dVhMTAT_fVnZuVwO6qUW64HTgff53UDRHbD9mdELEish3azJX5vx7orPWKH_HvTalFRFDGEz3nvS9mziRnaNakrUha6EofpDtFgCE0lbQOrJaBkrIr6U0RTKUQ==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Maria Givens, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:mgivens@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">mgivens@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1035" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Congressional Update</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="LETTER.BLOCK11"></a><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Appropriations</span></u></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="budg"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1037" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="budg"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">House Passes Budget Resolution</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The House voted to approve the budget resolution on a vote of 216-212 on Thursday October 26th. The non-binding
budget resolution, which had been amended by the Senate, allows for annual deficits to grow by $1.5 trillion over the coming decade to help pay for tax cuts. A House tax plan will be released on Nov. 1, with a markup in the Ways and Means Committee the following
week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><u><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Impact on Future Federal Funding</span></u></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">By 2027, under the Senate plan, overall non-defense discretionary funding would be 18 percent below its 2017
level and 29 percent below its 2010 level, after adjusting for inflation. This would impact funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, Indian Housing Block Grant, and Department of Justice tribal funding, among others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><u><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Protecting Federal Treaty and Trust Obligations</span></u></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI recently passed a resolution calling for Full Funding of the Federal Trust Responsibility and Ensuring the
United States has the Revenue to Finance Federal Commitments in Tax Legislation (</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZxwf3bAqXfTYCYoZg_JUPEpg_jy2GHishh6_ggDVgikxsdR4gcYueDvJ_NHIisi5c720yLlczvfjEBIE9xKCZp8AMPifGgcgCKmjK-Jv2XWNTSkG-NfLtSf879KhxH--__azWovSZYir544dvmXF5acbJQznSEBc77qKEwx_HIyfGP8OXC6kAQLuAFo0ZR_prC5RBwcf39QxLnGjuMxAU5joCb5IIz9yPZV2EXSecMkFh5coRV3KabbpI-CI4G7m8mt-WM35fcVGAXS4TFEpTTlyos9VYSvAoDNsHt77LpaJ-aHcuj26X_AeEQj6NOIX8xopqm5uf1A5EvPf6sr5NKmbdBPvFjHfe&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Res.
#MKE-17-012</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> ). Due to insufficient funding and services by federal agencies, Native communities
have suffered severe social, economic, and environmental harms at a </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgT94un3U22ZpqE8CFgbh174UJy4N3Rkl7ddp_21hHPWfXC7BqiQPpIArQF-KpNkhhy1ekNTsKlxqmBlIUENp6poj75-grJKPBn-_vOmfFFU-JVZfaAgJaVLSq-YFS1JDLQ4mkmftU3D8XKwQhLMtwvI=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">rate
far in excess of other communities</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">. Indian tribes across the nation have been forced to spend large
amounts of scarce tribal funds to support the services that should have been provided or paid for by the United States. Deficit-financed tax cuts that lead to potential austerity cuts would affect all Americans, but would disproportionately impact American
Indians and Alaska Natives who rely on federal funding of the trust responsibility as well as social programs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI urges Congress to consider the impacts to American Indians and Alaska Natives if the federal budget is cut
in the future to reduce deficits caused by tax cuts. The cuts to federal treaty and trust obligations coupled with cuts to mandatory programs such as Medicaid and SNAP could leave tribes and tribal people worse off, even with some tax reductions. NCAI urges
Congress to uphold, in any tax legislation, the federal treaty and trust obligations that are funded in the appropriations process, as well as ensure that the U.S. Government has the revenue to finance existing federal commitments and meet critical national
needs now and in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Amber Ebarb, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Budget and Policy Analyst</span></em>, </span></span><a href="mailto:amber_ebarb@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">amber_ebarb@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1038" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Introduced Legislation</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="pubsafbill"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1039" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="pubsafbill"></span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act (S. 1986), Introduced</span></strong></span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">S. 1986, the Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act, was introduced by Senators Franken (D-MN) and
Murkowski (R-AK) on Oct. 19, 2017. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Udall (D-NM), is aimed at addressing the high rates of sexual violence and other crimes perpetrated against Indian women by non-Indians. A 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice
found that more than 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetime. Of those victims, 97% experience inter-racial violence. S. 1986 would amend 25 USC 1304 to reaffirm tribal inherent authority over sexual assault, trafficking,
and stalking crimes committed by non-Indians against Indians in Indian Country. The bill was referred to the Indian Affairs Committee where it awaits further action. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Virginia
Davis, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Senior Policy Advisor</span></em>, </span></span><a href="mailto:vdavis@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">vdavis@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="Taxbills"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1040" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="Taxbills"></span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">S. 2012, Tribal Economic Assistance Act and S. 1935, The Tribal Tax Reform Act, Introduced</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 25, 2017, Senator Hoeven, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZOriJEd86lWDkR8tiHbod3Kxv7cMhfXv0aQC9RuMWPAtAhRx9tHSg_B5degNO-3WO2hZfNOUKKHFj2AlTH9UtiV4ivGo4nBMbXDyGUMFK-eJtW4iS8GkeKyph2GdElI-CLe5XsqKjceKF5DU6NqP5r_8mj_VvXEBZa7PFzYgLubQ81vh4hQE6vJdch0LXbUUHun2DBgoSuFWvmqQ7JQZLkQgRUZlHxP9uSLh7ep3UDXcg3r8vHGdiF932KiP_C7BnhHkZY6zrwNI=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">S.
2012, the Tribal Economic Assistance Act</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, with Senators Murkowski and Heitkamp as cosponsors. The
bill updates several provisions in the tax code for the purpose of attracting capital in Indian Country and stimulating tribal economies. S. 2012 was referred to Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over matters related to taxation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">However, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold an oversight hearing on tribal tax issues entitled,
"Building Tribal Economies: Modernizing Tax Policies that Work for Indian Country." The hearing will be held Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 628. The hearing will also be
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZX6iafXRXJ5Hw7o6nrEpJyQfEjLnKteffVZ-mXpTBf3ZzL7Be8qRPwP0JN0DX-emydJQhUP3EHF-5tk3t-leTFCEN434SU1CclrfBiyrbCvAUpmEZj7OVWj_CYx6xAHUhlNbd9EOoV6kmjJ3rQwzyzJJtMeshKVJU9VpxI60kUPyOTvnlW5GicnziKtwIwlR2610qoPkl0XOboJBxgXt9a7rry81tvDEZcFLInz3CILb803waoBukLg==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">webcast
live</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 5, 2017, Senator Moran introduced
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZfoqkfb2OKab3f5kQmQcmoJj_-uL1gMFWpMO6rFMiKcBThKvKGpZ9NdBqwcosBv38Xv71BMnRpmTM2AqPuc7DdpYCw0PSlpW0RkdXvrV25BOXNDTMgAv1Q2pDE0SqprQZKNVFZJ3XUDI96754Mpf40W5Cc9Bn2KINKpq9HkLOoqE=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">S.
1935, the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2017</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">. The bill would create parity between tribes
and states for several provisions in the tax code. S. 1935 is the Senate companion bill to
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZlHbUf1NS4QoEgAeoHAmKIpCBjVocYErs5h6SK2yKzD4pCfo2fFSeD75fJ5u9M4UjRRVFJO1GLKyM1oLUqQRWr-Ohe5oHcLr9XFFL-wOniH86mItjyr1llnjZ_BCG8GMqZf68nX15xve9IIPC_j80Pz3qcF7ML-X9_eF_dUDCk5c=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">H.R.
3138</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, which was introduced in the House earlier this year by Representatives Kind and Jenkins,
along with other bipartisan cosponsors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI passed
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgeiPYN8cR_XJsD_gDS5yD8g4i8Ka6CeEHqTRXP2KnPcWJ0FG0O2tg6slXn-ST4n3eEo1v6MScdW8UtDK7Qhv0hE7jdaaBm_7-IBSLT6PX_V4Hd1fi2uZ-lC1ZrKw2g7zbG6fT7XX55T29sVQ1K04pf_EgqEUSYv1PCaRog-4m3bDro1e0opdrxONgQd2uKraJWfr3Yw8yEacvlJNgvX_Gs8wjSf8o8q4t9_jcBq2rTdJ3YRuUmeG-1E=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Resolution
#MOH-17-011, Equitable Treatment for Tribal Nations in Congressional Tax Reform</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, at the Mid Year
Conference in June. NCAI has developed a series of proposals based on the resolution and has been working with the Administration and Congress to ensure tribal tax priorities are included in tax reform.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info: </span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Jacob
Schellinger, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Staff Attorney</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:jschellinger@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">jschellinger@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="LETTER.BLOCK52"></a><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="hcprops"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1041" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="hcprops"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Competing Proposals to Stabilize U.S. Healthcare System Floated in Congress<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA)-the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, respectively-recently unveiled the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act. Their legislation, often referred to as the Alexander-Murray proposal, would appropriate money for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) through
2019 and make several changes to the state innovation waiver process established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that this legislation would reduce the deficit by $3.8 billion
over the next decade. CBO also estimated that health insurance premiums likely would not change much and neither would the bill drastically reduce the number of citizens covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). All 48 Senate Democrats support the bill
and Senator Alexander indicated that he has 12 Republicans supporting the bill, which would give the bill the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Despite a favorable CBO score and widespread support in the Senate, the likelihood of the Alexander-Murray proposal
becoming law is not promising. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has not agreed to bring this legislation to the Senate floor and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) stated that the Senate should remain focused on repealing the Affordable Care Act,
not propping it up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Further damaging the chances to advance Alexander-Murray is an alternative plan proposed by SenateFinance Chairman
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX). The Hatch-Brady proposal would fund CSR payments through 2019, suspend the individual and employer mandate from 2017-2021, refund employer mandate penalties incurred from 2015-2017 and expand
the use of health savings accounts. Further, the proposal would add anti-abortion provisions to the funds that help offset out-of-pocket costs for lower-income Americans. It is unlikely that this plan gains momentum, especially in the Senate, where it would
be subject to a Democratic filibuster. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong> Josh Pitre,
<em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Senior Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:jpitre@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">jpitre@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="wireless"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1042" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="wireless"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Senators Wicker and Cortez-Masto Introduce Bill on Wireless Infrastructure Permitting, (S. 1988)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 20th,2017, Senators Wicker (R-MS), and Cortez Masto (D-NV), introduced S. 1988, the
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZfPGhLlNZHRBaMhtX7mkmSBnSk8xSI4gPAEo0LqBopQ2Bpig99clcI7TFwg-rLhEJ4dYV2cMUuYsoKghx5voFMmnfUH_eaxjcwfxZWqcyYmIi6eLcNq25qjEB2-AlV-8hlBkoxwc1LrRRQbqqRNRMCrVf10MhmgQP1loGJBHlWaZT-KY2eBMs2xlJQu5d6T7W_xIZNigWJVaxg3ucrfZHW_6OY-tbCMVdYphf4IuN-H-y-EjemfQ0gl7FxoVfGEneLz-G25JlpXAV6C6xYAmzGEoZihIb4ClnoVfgcT52LGnaEfTJ50gVk5Wb5VHgX5u5Co1K1vhZ4U5RUVL0pwdmsSs4gNCIT-k6An4eyOi3WTG08sglgeM4Iw9yq98KltOclzUFmpWjkVKZEwr2WcL-g448k2a8NUAv&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">"Streamlining
Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2017" (SPEED Act)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.
The measure would streamline the permitting process for telecommunications equipment that is installed in locations that have already been subjected to historical or environmental reviews. The bill would also allow Tribes to "op-in" to allow wireless deployment
on Tribal Lands with no NEPA or Historic Preservation review. However, the bill allows for development in Rights of Way without any historic preservation review. Many tribes have highlighted the need for historic preservation reviews for infrastructure in
Rights of Way because these areas were historically ancient trade routes. NCAI has been very active on this issue at an administrative issue and filed comment three times with the FCC. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Maria Givens, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:mgiven@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">mgiven@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="LETTER.BLOCK57"></a><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="NAHER"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1043" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="NAHER"></span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Native American Heritage Month Resolution Introduced</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On Wednesday, October 25th, Senators Hoeven (R-ND) and Tom Udall (D-NM) led a bipartisan group of 21 Senators
in introducing a resolution to officially recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month. In addition to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, eight other members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs joined the effort: Senators, Barrasso (R-WY),
Heitkamp (D-ND), Daines (R-MT), Lankford (R-OK), Moran (R-KS), Cantwell (D-WA), Franken (D-MN), and Tester (R-MT). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Denise Desiderio, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Director</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:ddesiderio@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">ddesiderio@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1044" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Reauthorizations</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="CHIP"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1045" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="CHIP"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">House to Consider CHIP Reauthorization Bill this Week<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Last week, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) indicated his intentions to bring legislation to reauthorize
federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for 5 years to the House floor.
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZt3pXgBeCEz_AenuqTUCUbkQWCjxRhUQ4I4f2WoA0RutaKENN15h7rrVloY-1RXva4bJNIkjOUWc-F5MTQGQMaq1A05mk3uL7v4UfWP1XNcaFMk6Nw1gLygdQ99Y7_YtSlPQ1H_85NMZgLEJawlpOxZ304vxnD0om88DMcKC0fqr69acJUAoUWSyTDMsBrTdW0kY59lfOcqMiS1nkKUd0DFBRat66OIjrnUbycycy4sYXvMC7iOax-vS25AEKADv0welHGD95P8ggLHhB0ck6r5waHc2WVroqQ78CM361jUH_yVFtgwrRdQ==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">H.R.
3922, the CHAMPION Act</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> (Walden, R-OR), was approved along party lines by the House Energy and
Commerce Committee on October 4, 2017. Democrats on the Committee opposed the bill due to its cuts to the Affordable Care Act as well as Medicare and Medicaid in order to offset the costs of funding CHIP.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Since the program expired on September 30, 2017, at least five states-Arizona, California, Minnesota, Ohio and
Oregon-in addition to the District of Columbia predict that they will run out of funding by the end of 2017 or beginning of 2018. This legislation contains a two-year renewal of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) at current funding levels. SDPI
funding is set to expire at the end of 2017. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Josh Pitre, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Senior Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:jpitre@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">jpitre@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="FCC"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1046" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="FCC"></span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">House Subcommittee pushes Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 11, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a mark up on
legislation to reauthorize and reform the Federal Communications Commission for the first time since 1990. By a voice vote, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee passed the measure and it will head to the full committee next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">For more information on the bill, amendments and to view the subcommittee mark up, click
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZIBz_avQFvCqWj1Sf2idcnBuajZbhen1DI3ja_Y-Xc_OD1Czu59859jfCwfy7AV0vNgnmiYgaF7Er4Rlnj1lh1YOo3y9jTRWo8DpDWbuNWf5la8oiUsxd64NLZkinp0yKoefl8PsYSCAbVIyyNmQAydd8aYGlWqjlorR1OVLpszebjpAOgyXO9GcX0Z-eIBrN99avyC_kVKN_06F7hoxgeflq8FdmI0uwcFTsJClETS-sZu8i72BuBdxGLZ6KLxBFVEdQtiuT7tQaXBLYwVPu_R87ApFLb-LkwCd3UsZDkzc6EQIeRxuS7UrFp8IO4xhGW32fTOXbZE0l4f2vehZPLw==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Maria Given, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:mgivens@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">mgivens@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1047" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Hearings Held</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="empow"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1048" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="empow"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Legislative Hearing Held on H.R. 215, the American Indian Empowerment Act</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 25, 2015, the House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative hearing on
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZq5yGlIipGqbi1gASDgEgXwvQsXuX_3b8d7ndbjO5h0Aqq2gungpQfggJiHdSvyxBfsnZtnHmGL6ruGDOyiUZU7m0vu0tbSo9qMSSXTHi4lIyAvNqQwB2vFSSrEMXt4r5o0u6kFUiN2YlU3MqVTyhmH4S3oHiMVOU&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">H.R.
215, the American Indian Empowerment Act</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">. The bill is intended to empower Indian tribes to convert
their trust land into restricted fee status and then use such lands for any purpose without federal restrictions. NCAI submitted a letter to the House Natural Resources Committee prior to the hearing, expressing the need for further examination of the bill
and related land issues, as amending trust land status in this way could have broader implications for tribal governments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI is creating a Workgroup to study the implications of the legislation and to recommend proposals for the
elimination of federal interference in tribal land management. The Workgroup will be open to any tribal representative who wishes to participate and will report its findings at the 2018 NCAI Mid Year Conference in Kansas City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The hearing witnesses included: Mr. John Tahsuda III, Acting Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs; the Honorable
Jonathon Nez, Vice-President, Navajo Nation; the Honorable Henry Cagey, Council Member, Lummi Nation; Mr. Cris Stainbrook, President, Indian Land Tenure Foundation; and Mr. Eric Henson, Executive Vice President, Compass Lexecon, and Research Affiliate, the
Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI's letter is available:
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZ77ireEbZ9N2GCmABUuz1TxI69H0D5VwN4pBVDdFR6QlAMmB4dSZzNSOmlvPMdlGXoOrpEO1Ezt6SnhmB6kB2IL0Ven2ypCiXKzPtQi2ax9sE1082sSm1HjfeR_WDF3aQR4SAHDezrQXZRJlDhFbklYp1gdHUkMONqzRCd5ZUOm1V5ySWKqO1yw2Ybp-0kVDE&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The hearing memo, testimony, and recording of the hearing are available:
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZCl0A9efAhehrEIQ4UEz3DvqDH51G3VecC_T9E1u2oSDA08cCFSmKevk_56jTTU4f1xd5wdD8qHRrXC5LfA6y5bhCMIuiPRPfUl6vDaQO3Ja_kWTRb-IwmsXNUWVAFrX9TUlTy2r7y3OE8Yye-tWIm0J8fOlZ81IS3_lWDUZ29a25sbytbxRZyg==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
John Dossett, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">General Counsel</span></em>, </span></span><a href="mailto:jdossett@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">jdossett@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="pubsaf"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1049" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="pubsaf"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing on Public Safety Bills<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a legislative hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 25th on three public safety
bills:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZIbxpH6-Q9wezHUUXmwE85G1s8uG-iJi0aGKxNkJi0wwcTmitkRbVmkSGi3Z9mkEOPfPWU6-rL6AbDeMBLFgl6KBYoV56cZqcHOiI-A1f8NNBBa1aEaKFVGJPWVIfgY3Yh-pxbjqHaAE9KsH40xQKqZR13LH9sN2_KSMpAmxw0e65aRlwq1tZu2Ya58QolXKapIE10WNXhA6lo30TVzHB10zXAUhEQP3Rqq9sOqMhJx0seWmO7aMuGq4bdZzEX0iIFbYCvy1_Hcdj6Hnl8ClkwQ==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">S.
1870</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">, the SURVIVE Act: introduced by Sen. Hoeven (R-ND) and cosponsored by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Heidi
Heitkamp (D-ND), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Al Franken (D-MN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jon Tester (D-MT), and John Barrasso (R-WY). This legislation will increase needed tribal victim assistance by creating a tribal grant program within the Department of
Justice's Office for Victims of Crime. The bill directs that five percent of the total annual outlays from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) be provided to Indian tribes. Similar legislation was approved by the Committee in the last Congress with bipartisan support.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZ-LtoGR3RhUEV6MS5O-rceZJNUed5XDAnFEj5NkiemeKgv1OKoBEZESsqthjL3te5kzFNwZ5FCVOjTTveWLxowEseMYvJ3B7pSUxWigM1PK8QRy3gB9He7eOLxsnQOl3uYzh9DfVFahf43JyN18lNBnCvq6F69lz9fv8XPfXViud9h59ZwyV_qwoUfyyBoHNjZ3DENPbbOQX4Zx4c1PyY4Fi4ZZGI2JSjFziY3djmIcbDUdS_L09YrVEI6x1vjyIWvjHX36BVir8eB9QUR_zfpg==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">S.
1953</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">, Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2017: Introduced by Senator Hoeven (R-ND),
co-sponsored by Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Barrasso (R-WY). The bill would reauthorize the grant programs included in the Tribal Law & Order Act of 2010 and includes other reforms to improve public safety in tribal communities including:
<o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Extending the Bureau of Prisons pilot program, which allows tribally convicted defendants of violent crimes to be housed in federal facilities, for 7 years;<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Making permanent the Shadow Wolves program within the Department of Homeland Security;<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Directing the Federal Public Defender to designate a tribal liaison for each district that includes Indian Country;<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Improving Department of Justice data collection related to trafficking of Native Americans; <o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2">
<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Improving justice for Indian youth by requiring the Interior Secretary, Attorney General, and Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
to coordinate and assist tribes in addressing juvenile offenses; to consult with tribes on delinquency prevention; to develop a means for collecting data on Indian youth and notifying tribes when a tribal member youth comes in contact with federal, state,
and other local juvenile justice systems. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul>
</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Similar legislation was approved by the Committee in the last Congress with bipartisan support.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZaoy44e7ukfsvYz84V52TS8eSL4Sf4PSmtwfm8jv6IxtuVwpmiG3uHn2Y22g8jcqBgV8nfhDZKM5PlPLy1dvtJa0D_-3Q6GHDWKmcHLZJAWAde36EiMoikgu_jLsHIuR3BlWL-UmLKz-nWJdZ1aLthOPDos8r_XssnEJiEdMAsZ2P16M3LcGgt3E4IwH7mDEXlYKpgo7ETmO-zh10dt-owjzsQB1-N3enevcHuRZI19f9KKXf93dyxvGs0k9TNDV6okFp65mZgKxNctK__vCqhg==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">S.
1942</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">, "Savanna's Act": Introduced by Senator Heitkamp (D-ND) and co-sponsored by Senators Tester (D-MT), Franken
(D-MN), Merkel (D-OR), Warren (D-MA), and Heinrich (D-NM). The bill is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a young Native woman who was tragically killed in North Dakota in August. The bill aims to improve the response to missing and murdered Native
women by improving tribal access to the federal criminal information databases, requiring data collection on missing and murdered Native people, and by directing the Attorney General to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols to address
missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The hearing included five witnesses: Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oklahoma; Bryan Rice, Director
of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Carmen O'Leary, Executive Director of the Native Women's Society of the Great Plaines; Chairman Dave Flute, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; and Councilman Joel Boyd, Colville Business Council. The testimony and questions focused
on the need for additional resources for tribal public safety and victim services. The Department of Justice and Bureau of Indian Affairs witnesses were generally supportive of the key concepts in the bills, but have not taken formal positions on the bills
at this time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Virginia Davis, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Senior Policy Advisor</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:vdavis@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">vdavis@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Upcoming Hearings</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="subsis"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1051" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="subsis"></span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Oversight Hearing on "Exploring Native American Subsistence Rights and International Treaties"</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Tuesday, October 31st, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">2:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Russell 253<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="TAXHEAR"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1052" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="TAXHEAR"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Oversight Hearing on "Building Tribal Economies: Modernizing Tax Policies that Work for
Indian Country"</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Wednesday,November 1st, 2017 2:30 p.m.Dirksen 628 <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<a name="TRIO"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1053" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="TRIO"></a><br>
House Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans<strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Legislative Hearing on Trio of Water Bills </span></strong><br>
Thursday, November 2, 2017 10:00 a.m.<br>
1324 Longworth<br>
<a name="STOP"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1054" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="STOP"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Legislative Hearing to Receive Testimony on S. 1400 - Safeguarding Tribal Objects of Patrimony
Act of 2017 and S. 465 - Independent Outside Audit of the Indian Health Service Act of 2017</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">November 8th, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">2:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Dirksen 628<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Administration Update</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="opioid"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1057" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="opioid"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">President Trump Declares Opioid Crisis a Public Health Emergency<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On Thursday, October 26th, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. "We can be
the generation that ends the opioid epidemic," said President Trump, who later signed a presidential memorandum directing his acting health secretary to declare a nationwide public health emergency and ordering all federal agencies to take measures to reduce
the number of opioid deaths. According to the White House's </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_rtocZgWj7JsQU_xdQfjJNxMj7ChqkfbQEyHanBGDo3YrOObm1FPoNSkWs2foHjJ5lbqwVFrtyZM2dQ8AOWXOoOGyvHyd1nDqBLwPolM30qouEHg01drH6X0ESabqmXGiBNtYqONwLMupWRfs0Ms3DDqZyJtnFPjG_-GEAX_wLILHwGDNUjnAtjaPAfivAd5jcBHp7d1kOkY2DutdOgvUAM1tfyOjG8P930XjkpdfGwRMeMDRnoC9t0pkT1jjz5XC&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">press
release</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, President Trump's directive will: Allow patients further access to "telemedicine" so
they can receive prescriptions without seeing a doctor; make grants available to those who have had trouble finding work due to addiction; allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to hire more people to address the crisis, particularly in rural
areas; and allow states to shift federal funds from HIV treatments to opioids, since the two are linked as drug users often share infected needles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">A Public Health declaration does not come with additional funding, however, it would enable federal agencies
to bypass "bureaucratic delays" and redirect existing funding to efforts aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. No additional funding is allocated through the Presidential Memorandum and the HHS Public Health Emergency Fund currently sits at $57,000, so
the Trump Administration will need to work with Congress to approve additional funding in a year end spending package. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">President Trump announced that the administration will push efforts to overturn the 16 bed limit for in-patient
treatment facilities that currently exists, as a well as plans to commence a prevention advertising campaign. Tribes have been seeking revisions to the 16-bed limitation and passed a resolution that addresses this issue at NCAI's Annual Convention held in
Milwaukee last week. American Indian and Alaska Native populations are disproportionately affected by opioid addiction. National data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that death rates involving opioid pain relievers for American
Indians and Alaska Natives were up to three times higher than rates for other racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally vulnerable groups include those affected by trauma, such as veterans, as well as populations that are more likely to be exposed to opioid
pain killers: elders<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">As a result, NCAI has taken several actions to address this growing epidemic. During the 2017 Mid-Year Conference
in June 2017, NCAI officially reestablished its Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force. The task force, which most recently met during the Annual Conference earlier this month, is focused on sharing successful practices, creating solutions, and examining the
impact that this borderless disease has on Indian Country. During the meeting, the task force heard from the Director of the Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy at SAMHSA, the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health at IHS, and the BIA's Opioid Task
Force on agency efforts to reduce opioid addiction. In addition, NCAI passed two resolutions,
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_rSrbhU2CRyPTkG8yzO65LWxfyHhv3HW3pZCzjOwc-p91OgdgXLxgxMXAG_63wcKwhkdKQ-YQkY0zbHtMXsQDvcVXYAOzfWpNx9AGgrxwqVhpFVX7Qy32N3BrIIM-9Q5kHgZYgSawrNEGPb3zEijtE-Y4byvo5xickU9L9YGOPkVA-I5BwrUrplrWzllPCEsPtXHg-BpAYnwPTaShV1HYDJZKlQY8Cu4QvB3HRVN7Zkg=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">MKE-17-039</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
and </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_D1HNdl0Eiv6gTiXh-_j6jnKBW1mBJo2PULnBClE-o0kk3E0Z_TpciabTCz7Qrw-R0CVCDDp91JGjvbBdDMfp_OgL2ogUgYS5O3byiuPOqO9F8LiiMV4J9N7mm62YP4DGrWPQz3X3lClOuMooAGk4K8Xl3iT_Zj0sIjA98P5Ck4RvAJQ7NA251t7vvKBn0P2F1kFmbmRCdN301_tz8sWcWxIjIzGtP_LLBIRjf3s80k8=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">MKE-17-040</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">,
addressing the opioid crisis during its annual conference last week. The first resolution calls for NCAI to support the adoption of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain by Indian Health Service
and Tribal Health Organizations to reduce opioid addiction, overdose and death of American Indian and Alaska Native people. The second resolution calls for NCAI to support legislation to amend the Social Security Act in order to achieve more favorable substance
abuse and mental health outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, which was established in March,
released an </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgRZGRBooE0f_Pexpltj2bWHWauzRqQ0HwKuztrWKghSDjuc1LUqLTdQT7PJ2O5eDoC9hssKS-LA6ZG_uD59EqoCzPiOMxpF8P6IgZ8HgoHZx5WFabWPnuNfJ6XDPO2MRM3iP4N0CVYPlCLkl0wg2LzfO0ubL0bfyD24isRwjCagwBTGXooQ5R6SaWT_yqB40qemyCDC1T4bFQAnsq738lbw=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">interim
report</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> in July 2017, and is planning on releasing their final recommendations next week. NCAI will
follow up with congress and the White House on providing direct appropriations for the hardest hit population per capita.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Denise Desiderio, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Director</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:ddesiderio@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">ddesiderio@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1058" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Issued Memoranda</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="LETTER.BLOCK39"></a><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="drone"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1059" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="drone"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The President Issues a Memorandum to form a Drone Partnership Pilot Program</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 25, 2017, President Trump issued a memorandum directing Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to
form an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program or Drone Partnership Pilot Program. The program would assist Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration in addressing the challenges of drones in national airspace, to
find ways to develop regulations that would reduce dangers against public safety and security, and improve communication with local, state and tribal jurisdictions. The Administration acknowledges the importance drones play a role in using technology for
emergency situations, photography, agriculture, monitoring, inspections, and commerce. DOT will published a more detailed notice through the Federal Register soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Click here for the
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZaAIJZ1Xyk29MfYI1c4vjRMJsNoXvWom7x3CZqtbbTfNlLaToiUp-wmuQ_KP2Dwqd7ZC3ExX5cBEMjY_5YtTWt_Sm2uFvGMqtqewgaCytyEfHMH6FwItJ8z7xFwSn9bn_NYiUM5aUOCDWO_-JNauISDnv8cuAKK-hvf20HaqLGihNx7-uwluvrTHcDl5o5EGO&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Press
Release</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZuAxH1YTW7JWdKGFRlPE3kSatZQSovJkp_sBueV6oJqItv5FAmRv052_71asi166BWYfIB21fAgafV2h8mV-fQgI7EyjEkQZ70SqLtpoEpPsyplQXVWf7f4S8oLm-rAQ4_pS6aa1IeR5c_xxPS-WPGyV47SnGHWgD6JMsx_7VtzQKZDCX5FjnEtdbm_C4N1kS&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Informational
Slides</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, and
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZwxmKe6khmfgvxe2FqfdEnMj2hPtC8Bp709PQife0l7dXGsmfTW1-9tkjUyP7rKCRFELzb1JniyvlIdmE64MNhJQHW6X8VpDIJ66QE887nBo6pBpSM1pew_k9QOWMlyS2OiqMyR_n9YytHGAUvJaWgfd9KPPIEMYPMYPnhXNuFUYBeXBWLt2PN0kaYNFeQdak&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Drone
Pilot Q and A</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Gwen Salt, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Legislative Assosiate</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:gwen_salt@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">gwen_salt@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="LETTER.BLOCK37"></a><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="relig"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1060" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="relig"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Attorney General Releases Memo on "Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberties," Upholding
AIRFA</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 6th, the Department of Justice released the
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZMYYeqIKzLxNUoE-oOnoYMMpDmInqdodwrRT0m_f_-HsJ_IROZ2uOedWS7FQ4A159mlqyBLXhlMmq4YQ47Ffx_nGyVlKP3HaTqW4vefQjA6RhQVxdC6gnKGi6R_kSWb5NFXgFMKavPBf-PbpdH5jWAase4ZmpeH5cCpnjvFPG0Q53jK-5cG_Sjl7X98_ct1aU575USR2KQGZzmVN2MJFq-UzwHyT1STqleG1GpC4Oa0M=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Attorney
General's Memorandum</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> that issues guidance for interpreting religious liberty protections in Federal
Law. This Memorandum was a directive of the President, asking the Attorney General to issue guidance on religious liberty. It was circulated to the heads of all executive Departments and agencies on October 6th. The Memo focused on the principles of religious
liberty and how agencies can consider religious liberty in rulemakings. Of the Federal Laws protecting freedom of religion, the DOJ Memo cites the American Indian Religious Freedom Act as one of the tenants for considering religious freedom in the Federal
Government. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Maria Givens, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:mgivens@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">mgivens@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1061" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Nominations</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="tara"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1062" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="tara"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">White House Nominates Tara Sweeney (Iñupiaq) for the Department of the Interior's Assistant
Secretary-Indian Affairs Post<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On Tuesday, October 17, 2017,
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZV1j3u6XyNe-MYrGe1mhOrhWoavqF7zQJRCp8mjiwFdeGf7UIrPu2P-xiHOsbM-ZJvsd23gq489cUrMYIDQFgT4x87Z3fnaGY9rySoqxtoPww6f6OwRNPeAsotssAKxgCKbmE64wVywUEM4VbjjyeQIz_yCB5UsiEIH_Rf4-Yb8ncdvaUCwPfZHrb0-4-Hcr2_pE1eyKzyG4WQVB5A13mqN3IkiWnd05FT9rXoWlJafU=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Tara
Sweeney was nominated to serve as the new Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs (AS-IA)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">"The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs is charged with the federal responsibility to protect tribal sovereignty,
treaty rights, and the trust relationship," said former NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. "This nomination is an important step by the Administration, and we look forward a swift confirmation by the United States Senate."
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Until Sweeney is confirmed by the Senate, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs John Tahsuda
III (Kiowa) will continue as the Acting Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs. <o:p>
</o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">"We appreciate the Administration's commitment to efficiently staffing important positions within governmental
departments directly effecting Indian Country, and we look forward to hearing from Ms. Sweeney about her goals and plans for working with tribal leaders to ensure the government-to-government relationship is upheld," said Cladoosby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Sweeney most recently served as the Executive Vice President of External Affairs for
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZWLN6ZOREBXPI8yNt9qnKndfyUvaXgdjXRYuqvWu1gyjmTSnQh-Tp5_wT7xPmw22xyWeIvhcpfpijVLxNfLxW9vUmGnNUrDaqTxI7ymXWPPOU8mIxiuuFWmu4gYNFrxTn&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Arctic
Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> where she led corporate media, government relations, and communications
strategy for ASRC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs assists and supports the Secretary of the Interior in fulfilling the United
States' trust responsibility to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages, and also helps foster and maintain the Federal-Tribal government-to-government relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Derrick Beetso, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Staff Attorney</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:dbeetso@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">dbeetso@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="robweav"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1063" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="robweav"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">President Trump Formally Nominates Robert Weaver to Serve as Indian Health Service Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 24, 2017, President Trump's nomination of Robert M. Weaver to serve as the Director of the Indian
Health Service for a term of four years was officially received by the Senate. According to the
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgZu9a4q7AJLdr3SOS5GKrvN6ZaSAP-GE7hlf5nv2I_NJDVti8-mnM5fc_rLhjd6PcwpiEXJh8sohzvu9CsYa4GixBH3lYXQEUvRuDFXRzQQ2CgYHthzkaXjIJV_pzucMuUY3gWLciUUrJEt6ULF9joGPHZHwS22Cc0cis2d-JZ9cbcjW6ifIF8pDaWy1xS6McfaVCVzH0IVU9iicyFAadQ4ZOIJZ9JqXlylwj_ST4uu8Nf9WqNvNmOEoEVhHtkBBcw==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">White
House announcement</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> earlier this month, Mr. Weaver, an enrolled member of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma,
is "the founder and owner of four companies that provide healthcare consulting services to tribal governments, their enterprises, and their members." One of those companies, RWI Benefits LLC, was awarded the 2017 American Indian Business of the Year by the
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. According to the company's
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgZu9a4q7AJLdAjhFgR7qY3mvGsHtx1x-VSSH2zizCkN8n6qZci4L8MJ85co4xLBG_CWqGVy2O-NqZwwSVunR_kcAzBCaymrTQ8Z433ukvv_j5mxLujyNO-5nUNkEojrHuA==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">website</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">,
Mr. Weaver's motivation to improve access and affordability to quality healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives comes from "his own family's devastating experiences with the death and destruction caused by substance abuse, mental health issues, addiction
and preventable diseases."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Mr. Weaver is expected to receive a nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. If his
nomination is approved by the Committee, it will go to the full Senate for consideration. If confirmed by the Senate, he will be responsible for overseeing an agency that provides comprehensive health care delivery to approximately 2.2 million American Indian
and Alaska Natives through 26 hospitals, 59 health centers, 32 health stations, and nine school health centers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Josh Pitre, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Senior Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:jpitre@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">jpitre@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1064" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Consultations</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="usda"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1065" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="usda"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">USDA Consultation on the Office of Tribal Relations and Agency Reorganization<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Last week, the US Department of Agriculture hosted a consultation at NCAI's Annual Convention on the agency's
reorganization efforts. The USDA's plan looks to move the Office of Tribal Relations out of the Secretary's Office and into a new Office of Partnerships and Public Engagements. NCAI submitted comments to the USDA requesting the USDA to continue housing the
Office of Tribal Relations within the Office of the Secretary, as is mandated in the 2014 Farm Bill authorizing language. NCAI's
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZHU-KO-pQpExeTWmMLtsRFPMcjKv2sLB9YGma8NZ-dqLR_NtFVAE_ZPplyI1q3hm5N-Na8-Sp7ENb5AFixwRcSfm25XeSw2LenG3z8cZQsuB-dWZremc-lYZP8BuAywMzw-BYgFsF3ZvDW674_phr7LtVthkInM8yNfDU_qg7DCqhj3wBW_nxjRnfB07R7vd3&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">comments</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
highlighted the importance of the government-to-government relationship and how the Federal Trust Responsibility is a more serious obligation than simple outreach. NCAI encourages Tribes to write to the USDA Office of Tribal Relations expressing their support
for its position within the Secretary's Office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
Maria Givens, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Policy Analyst</span></em>,
</span></span><a href="mailto:jpitre@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">jpitre@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="bie"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1066" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="bie"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Bureau of Indian Education Announces Strategic Plan and Tribal Consultations <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">At the NCAI Annual Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) shared with tribal
leaders and tribal officials, the BIE's draft Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan consist of BIE's priorities, mission and goals and how BIE will accomplish them. BIE developed the draft Strategic Plan through input and feedback from its employees, school
boards, school administrations, and representatives from the National Indian Education Association and National Congress of American Indians. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">BIE announced five tribal consultations on the BIE Strategic Plan:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Wednesday November 15, 2017
</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">- Salem, OR<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Time: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Location: Chemawa Indian School Auditorium<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">3700 Chemawa Road NE.,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Salem, OR 97305<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Tuesday November 28, 2017 -</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Anadarko,
OK<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Time: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Location: Riverside Indian School<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">101 Riverside Drive<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Anadarko, OK 73005<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Tuesday December 5, 2017</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
- Bismarck, ND<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Time: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Location: United Tribes Technical College<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">3315 University Drive<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Bismarck, ND 58504<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Tuesday December 12, 2017</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
- Albuquerque, NM <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Time: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Location: National Indian Programs Training Center<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">1011 Indian School Road NW<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:45.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Albuquerque, NM 87104<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Thursday December 14, 2017 - The last session will be held telephonically and by webinar, by calling 631-992-3221
and entering the passcode 759-763-471. The link for the webinar is: </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZR390mWCsR2MUDHNOmIqoKzTcvHUz_av_xqKLMp7fZ6yckSnjazzlNxlyznwM4JmLsBQbdRLMOdJ2NX8tERaEm7y4yC6Dv0ecuYFpZlwNNldJ2-EsDIVXAkCNO4_RrOqy4nMOvW3eAYuCs9tYlMkGsTf4Bjk-4CHD&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7727750735595699458</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">;
webinar ID 993-210-731. This session can accommodate 500 participants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><u><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The deadline</span></u></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
to submit comments is Saturday, January 13, 2018, you can submit comments to Ms. Paulina Bell, Bureau of Indian Education via email or U.S. postal mail:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Email:
</span></span><a href="mailto:paulina.bell@bie.edu" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">paulina.bell@bie.edu</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">U.S postal mail: ATTN: Ms. Paulina Bell, RE: BIE Draft Strategic Plan Consultation Comments<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 3609, Washington, DC 20240.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin-left:22.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">For question or more information you can contact: Clint Bowers (</span></span><a href="mailto:clint.bowers@bie.edu" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">clint.bowers@bie.edu</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">)
or Travis Clark (</span></span><a href="mailto:travis.clark@bie.edu" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">travis.clark@bie.edu</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Click here for copy of Draft
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZMkjsfVwpJGTQr0GA0sICAhZiPgOBBK5iUAatOpQPAtE5R-MEiMSafLZaPzKFSQvudyYEmvES4WV7qhEXq2BDnVFAKWg0ThBpEMFWgNzwoUUozBdtqUBa4Xiel1G0cR11uGIgH6ydgQTSQ2-F67UIYqULxWhVGdaEsfQUfnZwvwfVEWxOL2Zrmjlk4MB-xZAb&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">BIE
Strategic Plan</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZRrOPmpEcYTwOT0rfRuCGvGypTdxLrrT4aQg9Xd5V1HmjZSNc787WW0xvSTbSawZHlxAGiKLUZX6OWmdYNWKs4pcLZbRrwixnkRwyoLjgNUHIJwMdSoCMI7nSpTAdy_jVdLIWuPyP7kXdjrmvxg_KY9AYwWeD8sz1aLae-EnVIv-kPJsEWh7BZJFuiVaqdnba&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Dear
Tribal Leader Letter</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">,
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZazt6nLMOgMIo8wT6PanlkFw_B9jrWVWWfsGUTHT91q8tZO6rdGHJRo0UPAXHw2sLsbX_2osWkGbkSgcZfMik1zpmAkyppxecfGyYt28sf52qAQ2C0vui-ypozLhDy49dLYbGBbeMq8Lukwt6VFwEFi3qvgaXG4N9L4Ex1k5DLFmCWn8hQhA3xwdwNsjMLF5G&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Federal
Register Notice</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, and
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZCL0M3rK6F54XaSCFTf4LssUAEl8_zy0iZQZxGiadzyyng8sgkY_OQntAB-XgA799tINfOWX86b5oM7Xx6vnecFvyLZ2pfARRQolFCdopjpqqNru_Av9hizVHXS1n7i4PZVdixJ1OcxEzUknA5AHbcuoU3NKwDyaUl7V5_9T-5x0DnT9kOpCK_fvN4vd9-Zht&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">BIE
PowerPoint Presentation</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">For more information on BIE's webpage on Strategic Plan click
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZiowCaRB6_JGJ4_Myee9ztgOXEPISbp0SJB3y3j3dr3gJ0u0_3L1DRDiRfHaGsnWRbKtiS-fA-R8Nt5WDxaHotoeCT2tpTsW05K3SAR0BIYBXto2V0YWurlnIHP5ntMY2P9-ygC7wKw0=&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong> Gwen Salt, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Legislative </span></em><i>Associate</i>, </span></span><a href="mailto:gwen_salt@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">gwen_salt@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
</td>
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</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="LETTER.BLOCK67"></a><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;display:table" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK67">
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<td width="100%" style="width:100.0%;padding:3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt;height:15.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><a name="doilis"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1067" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="doilis"></span></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Department of the Interior Hosts Listening Session on Fee to Trust Proposal at NCAI Annual Conference
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On Monday, October 16, 2017 the Department of the Interior hosted a listening session with Tribal Leaders in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin during NCAI's 74th Annual Conference regarding the Department's proposed revisions to its fee-to-trust regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The Department's regulations at
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZqljMY3dFXRYAosvDEt8UivjlcJXQoU3zz3p4J_xKAW4vpGU1um0cBy88Uos5_UULdGa5wO6pxtWZGxMIIGOq5-EfDLFOnmi7uX6f9T3x13pg-NRdSD3qsAOU3E9OS8NZPKJ7Wmw6_HbFcg09WuBSPQ==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">25
C.F.R. Part 151</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> govern how it processes applications from Indian tribes and individual Indians
to have fee land taken into trust status by the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">In its October 4, 2017
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZoE_xAeQ9vSCn_ksXh0zedrto8p36pyGwcFiUsSliJ78fczf1u0RcLM8W1YQ0RhEHoS-U418V-QFhljyxFDZw7C8snStDbOg3QC_gOx_2Hm5nyL8i9EOBFk2ahPpJfHD4bb4OMg5W957FiH8mboLucWI0_Y14-MCEWzvNdDDuLNudWZ0fnffNwzRpnsrVhJXG&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">Dear
Tribal Leader Letter to Tribes</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">, the Department included
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZ__HDYFgVJQ1QOM1GZzLzmIe7jsAbA7XYAzuOKWEfPdVYBCA9PkLYjp1JA3wbU0L755HQWltUtyhFQgTiyVK7W4Ow4do5-QwnFTFQisoo6igjbVl9NyFSMHCAZTKddnbEhwuMpFhEXvcO7q55JqB82NPQSChQe3DesusG2zKVDoZmGwKS7kbiWzSJM4d_zHn8&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">draft
revisions</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> that would affect the off-reservation fee to trust process and the final decision process
for both off-reservation and on-reservation land acquisitions. The October 16 Listening Session was well attended and provided an opportunity for Tribes to share their thoughts on the Department's Consultation Draft.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The overwhelming majority of Tribes expressed opposition to the Consultation Draft, citing concerns about the
additional layer of review; potential added legal and technical costs; changes that invite litigation from anti-Tribal interests; added considerations of state and local government interests; lack of meaningful consultation with Tribes before drafting the
revisions as well as an inadequate consultation schedule moving forward; and legal questions on whether components of the Consultation Draft are prohibited by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act at 25 U.S.C. 2719(c). After a healthy dose of consideration and
discussion, NCAI's Land and Natural Resources Committee worked with the Gaming Subcommittee to pass NCAI Resolution
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZsPJC1tBmJIkA9zR5_E0_jbdOFsd7KEbREWnA4txlcKFNegV1_-9HxKAeHCoVkBfBFvomzsAGMbeW0s2yhwe6QcpcjazRrUg5uUZqQmTa-Z7FRFLtNnGwgxRUGAXLg5FjtuUZ_qbq_RuKecYZUQSecRDWUq8chz1vD9i7vlOC4VxUlAFgnHfiGcDBPaOPN3FXmHk3_kYjY2VsRtXnH0Q0psm84yoyNR4aL6K05lM0t0ilNWdq91qg1hhwM-s-Gm3sq-6F70iLDfkdf2WYY2nxpA==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">MKE-17-059</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
- Opposing the Department of the Interior's Efforts to Amend the BIA's Land intro Trust Regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Acting on the recent resolution, NCAI submitted a
</span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZxm1OaGy1fxolePt2CRFhYRy_XsN5GtZq-BJne18InO2yN8v0MOlsVpTRFMJCGof3hntNZCzQO1MM7PYlspZSFpCtA-ukLx0IUG3zvdTmjnsv_58infRD9RK53rwAC8sYtzU16FdfEbYKEb1KOYBzJihBzHjCMzkeaR7dtk5gUeQQsqCwrzuNK-C-mkgO8Y7S&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">letter</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">
to the Department of the Interior last week requesting that the Department withdraw its efforts to amend the fee to trust regulations and requesting further that, if the Department decides to undertake similar initiatives in the future that it wait until the
recently nominated Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs is confirmed and a Deputy Solicitor-Indian Affairs is appointed, and that it consult meaningfully with all of Indian Country as required by the Department's own consultation policy and Executive Order 13175.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Derrick
Beetso, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Staff Attorney</span></em>, </span></span><a href="mailto:dbeetso@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#A20000">dbeetso@ncai.org</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1068" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="congress"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Comments Due</span></u></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:congress"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a name="doi"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1069" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="doi"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Comments Due Today on the DOI's ANPRM on Trade and Commerce in Indian Country</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Comments supporting amendments to the Indian Trade and Commerce Regulations are due today, October 30, and we encourage all tribes to provide comments. The
purpose of this comment period is to provide factual examples of the need for updated regulations that will recognize tribal regulatory authority over business activity on tribal lands, and pre-empt dual taxation in Indian country. Even a short letter of
support for moving forward with the process would be very helpful. Click here for a
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZYlmUC8AdgKPLn8XGmTcB978KBgbVYrDTQU4UuUBizIGlvLikEvASMcvd6VXqs1Lq9s0vpiqXSFgw_4ulrALmIVbIgWsFm_1yHU7rIN3tP4fJjZXbqqKu8McpTd7qMeIz11uEBlXcoaEGuCXMbS9hdniG4_Rtd_78zJREupK1Q942HRjx_z44nm8PhppJLFrv&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">DRAFT</span></a> letter you can adopt as your own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Attached is a great example of comments from the
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZgfLpBGekqRc4E_FredswFtrCsHws6g-gTIBcLzI-ze4IplomKbGzeQ--0KG3WkfVEAOltRnDzePJlh_F8lo72VqSEmE-fdm2vmwSaO4etUnRtj2ohZUrpu8S7xvHURPwo2QDOXGAUBYG68XAbZr0xkXUovH7msV0iIhENHP1JZkPMkeRKe3KuY-pwSQZElLv&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">Rosebud Sioux Tribe</span></a>. The comments support amended regulations, and then use a series of factual examples to demonstrate the need. These examples might be useful as you consider developing comments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">BIA has a good website with a lot of background information here. In short, comments should be sent to the attention of Elizabeth Appel, Director,
consultation@bia.gov Even if you sent a short e-mail of support, the more the better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">During consultations, NCAI has heard strong support for updating the regulations, consensus appears to say that dual taxation is an enormous problem
in Indian country. There appears, however, to be concern of whether this approach can work legally. Can a regulation pre-empt state taxes? To that question we have three answers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">It worked with the leasing regulations at
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZ4Ss5C0uf3CkOMjLEVOlYHL8Rab4SpPE0KyABuzd1ApJ-og0BmXGa0keIC2sxiohPcSqb0v5CJWXHoMJfJYfvP9Lb19hQ-23p8xSgAwQE0ctVFyBK0Dl_f2-_usDMOA8aWyNQfkOtE7t6HACKN8LSLw==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">25 CFR 162.017 </span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">It worked with the Right-of-Way regulations at
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZsco7l1T3usMEc5qD0CPMLcBPtwGwDMq0SqTwnz_sS9QJrxrsYLDFsZvI7OoiP0yWjCnrymgab-yMf-KduxyKLF2Bm-XKBBd1wcfWQM9tMBYJ1YmX-z0y4E3FZsykkBadg_HIu8luU8Tv4zxCf3C7RA==&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">25 CFR Part 169.11</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">It can work with the Trader Regulations at 25 CFR Part 140, because validly promulgated regulations authorized by federal statute displace conflicting state laws by operation of the Supremacy Clause. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">"The phrase 'Laws of the United States' encompasses both federal statutes themselves and federal regulations that are properly adopted in accordance
with statutory authorization." City of New York v. FCC, 486 U.S. 57, 63 (1988).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">We have also attached NCAI Resolution
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZqw1aJz3h3089-SG_oC5ox5vYj_-9QflR2Qzo8d3l91LcWTWED9pQzlsk8O0JjsyNSE6d9G45qn41JV62VV0ZOGWkxnAyCzaxHp53xumQXt04_ZeZhesUtzw1xkjbmkihWP3GJ1dCkIM4I4RjmZaLFKM90ic7shIsIfPbiHckg8PhJsr24Gz_CIyoM8Vpf4Xs&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">SD-15-045</span></a> and a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZx-zQOuhsosU-Hv4viOOkI7j2Yxu4v4K0Tkp6LEMJYj9VSMg4uv9PFAeihx9Zc6ESCDiQQk4Il2Fgv7gmN-DKIIirK-QDQOXIyuD_xidVb1cyardqFC9oLlhEF4-GyD8nCMTXSp0DBatssSusI9m-3QpRMtrU2daeorVVPMNW-Jf3nDbj1m-dr8iMM564ibyr&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">one-pager</span></a> with background on the authority and the need for updated regulations. We encourage all tribes to submit comments in support.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Derrick Beetso, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Staff
Attorney</span></em>, <a href="mailto:dbeetso@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">dbeetso@ncai.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a name="ihs"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1070" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" alt="ihs"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Comments on Indian Health Service Strategic Plan Due Tomorrow - October 31st</span></b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The Indian Health Service (IHS) began its outreach on the IHS Strategic Plan (2018-2022) by sending a letter announcing Tribal Consultation and Urban
Confer on September 15, 2017. Specifically, IHS is asking the following question on the initial framework: "Do the IHS mission, vision, goals and objectives reflect the direction and priorities you feel IHS should pursue over the next 5 years?" IHS held a
listening session on its strategic plan during NCAI's annual conference earlier this month in Milwaukee, WI. In addition, IHS has held a tribal leader conference call, urban Indian organization leader conference call and a listening session at the National
Indian Health Board (NIHB) conference. Once again, the deadline to provide your comments is October 31, 2017. IHS asks that you please provide your written comments or recommendations by email at
<a href="mailto:consultation@ihs.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">consultation@ihs.gov</span></a> or
<a href="mailto:urbanconfer@ihs.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">urbanconfer@ihs.gov</span></a> with "IHS Strategic Plan 2018-2022" as the subject line. Additional information, including the comments that have already been submitted, can be
found <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-fqG_DQpLlozMw83-Hd1MH2oXAeE_4bGG-ib6jjXMg6efrxXevDJgVeGYr0_qSrZOxBwl0VrprTf86awEghwQkMHFza-mCdGFCOiiCmbMw-mCHa2qOcIs6YcDkEFBHr2w_seBZFtBn8fEYghIbbOeJdfBpd9TqGpzX2bIbihD7bvMauto4GCuOcfxlrxNq9kjS7_TvSC-LN9kfy3fzEJqP1xBcrTJrwb&c=K6nrWOAoQWz_3HtInH5iPe5mwC9t4SOZVTVmcZY3xdSaGHjvXxubAw==&ch=Mbs6AmhSoNzucvRx1q1ywWpqZUYshWasO1X29b4CV_5F9PqNIqR7gA==" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#A20000">here</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Josh Pitre,
<em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Senior Policy Analyst,</span></em>
<a href="mailto:jpitre@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">jpitre@ncai.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks Public Comments on Draft Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022</span></b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">On October 20, 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released its draft Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022. The DOT Strategic Plan shows the
Department's mission and four identified goals:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Safety: Reduce Transportation-Related Fatalities and Serious Injuries Across the Transportation System.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Infrastructure: Invest in Infrastructure to Ensure Mobility and Accessibility and to Stimulate Economic Growth, Productivity and Competitiveness for American Workers and Businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Innovation: Lead in the Development and Deployment of Innovative Practices and Technologies that Improve the Safety and Performance of the Nation's Transportation System.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5">
<span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Accountability: Serve the Nation with Reduced Regulatory Burden and Greater Efficiency, Effectiveness and Accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">The deadline to submit comments is November 13, 2017. When submitting comments, please include name, title, organization, postal address, telephone
number and email address. Submit comments via email or U.S. mail to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Email:
<a href="mailto:dotstrategicplanning@dot.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">dotstrategicplanning@dot.gov</span></a> Please include the full body of your comments in the text of the electronic message and as an attachment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Policy, Attn: Strategic Plan Comments, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington,
DC 20590.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black">NCAI Contact Info:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:black"> Gwen Salt, <em><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Legislative Associate</span></em>, <a href="mailto:gwen_salt@ncai.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A20000">gwen_salt@ncai.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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