WEEK IN REVIEW
Noteworthy headlines you might have missed
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Biden Creates Native American Boarding School National Monument to Mark Era of Forced Assimilation
AP News
On Monday, President Biden designated the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School site as a National Monument. This action was announced during the tribal leaders' summit that took place in the White House that very day. According to Biden's own words, this was done in an attempt to confront parts of the "dark chapters" found throughout American history.
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Tribal Health Leaders Raise Alarm Over South Dakota Syphilis Outbreak
ICT News
Over the past four years, syphilis has become a more and more prevalent issue within Indian Country. Despite the cries from tribal leaders and experts asking the Department of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency, there hasn't been any responses from the federal government. Health professionals are doing their best, adapting to the task force's guidelines, but this growing outbreak emphasizes the importance and need of increasing the IHS funding.
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Language Revitalization: Protecting Indigenous Cultures as Disease Prevention
Yale Daily News
More and more research is coming out demonstrating the importance of cultural sensitivity in the medical field, and how it can save lives. A study published in 2022 shows that language revitalization lends it's hand into disease prevention on the long term, and suggests more medical centers begin implementing programs that include the option.
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Study Shows Voting is Harder Than Ever for Native Americans
Syracuse.com
A study published in November 2024 demonstrates that despite minorities usually turning to vote at higher percentages while living within their communities; the same is not happening to Native Americans. Research has attributed this departure from the average to higher than average barriers set in place to stop Native American's from voting.
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Man Who Claims He Killed Missing Navajo Woman in Arizona Sentenced to Death in Texas Cases
12 News
Jason Thornburg, who confessed to the 2017 murder of Tanya Begay in Dilkon, Arizona while in custody, was sentenced to death on December 4 for the murder and desecration of three people in Fort Worth, Texas.
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WEEKLY UPDATES
A glimpse into our office's week
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President Nygren Attend the White House Tribal Nation Summit | |
President Nygren, Cherokee Delegate to Congress Kim Teehee, and Morgan Rodman, Senior Advisor on Native American Affairs for the Domestic Policy Council
On December 9, 2024 President Nygren attended the fourth and final White House Tribal Nations Summit, of the Biden-Harris Administration. The Summit reaffirmed the Administration's historic progress in strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships with Tribal Nations and highlighted key policy initiatives supporting Indigenous communities.
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NNWO Advocates for Technical Amendments to the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education
NNWO, accompanied by Lashawna Tso, Senior Director of Community Partnerships & Government Relations from One Generation, engaged with congressional staff to advance proposed technical amendments to the The Fund. These amendments aim to strengthen the Fund's ability to support BIE schools by increasing funding flexibility, enhancing program development and fostering long-term educational sustainability.
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Congress Makes Progress on NDAA
This week, the Senate and House Armed Service Committees released final negotiated language for the National Defense Authorization Act, setting the stage for a critical vote in Congress. The two committees have been negotiating the bill for months, with an earlier version having passed the House back in July. The House moved quickly to pass the new language on Wednesday, sending it to the Senate for their consideration.
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USDA Hosts Tribal Consultation Work Group Meeting to Address Food Distribution Challenges and Rural Needs
On Monday, USDA hosted a Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group meeting to discuss the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and other related topics affecting tribal communities. This consultation provided a platform for tribal leaders and other representatives to ask questions and provide input on the supply chain disruptions, food access challenges and opportunities for program enhancements.
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New National Monument Recognizes Boarding School Legacy
On Monday, President Biden announced the establishment of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. This follows the formal apology that President Biden issued in October, on behalf of the federal government for its role in establishing and maintaining the boarding school system. This acknowledgement, one of only a few such apologies in US history, marks a critical step toward addressing the lasting impact of forced assimilation policies and recognizing the resilience of Native communities.
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LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
Congressional Committee Activity
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Legislative Activity
S. 5453 - A Bill to Amend Title 18, United States Code, to Provide Tribal Courts and Law Enforcement with More Tools to Combat the Opioid Epidemic, sponsored by Senator Daines (R-MT)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs (12/09/24)
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Upcoming Hearings
No Upcoming Hearings.
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News
No Significant Updates
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Legislative Activity
S. 5483 - A Bill to Provide for Across-The-Board Rescissions of Nonsecurity Discretionary Spending of 5 Percent, sponsored by Senator Blackburn (R-TN)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations (12/11/24)
S.5484 - A Bill to Provide for Across-The-Board Recissions of Nonsecurity Discretionary Spending of 1 Percent, sponsored by Senator Blackburn (R-TN)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations (12/11/24)
S.5485 - A Bill to Provide for Across-The-Board Recissions of Nonsecurity Discretionary Spending of 2 Percent, sponsored by Senator Blackburn (R-TN)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations (12/11/24)
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Upcoming Hearings
No Upcoming Hearings
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News
No Significant Updates
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Legislative Activity
No New Activity
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Upcoming Hearings
No Upcoming Hearings
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News
No Significant Updates
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Legislative Activity
H.R. 10373 - To Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to Create a Tax Credit for Nurse Preceptors, sponsored by Representative Tenney (R-NY-24)
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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News
LHHS: Fueling Health, Education, and the American Workforce
Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson sits down with Robert Aderhold (R-AL), who leads the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee and discusses the scope of the LHHS bill, and how Chairman Aderhold prioritizes funding at the state and local level.
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TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS
Consultation Schedule for Next Week
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Monday, December 16, 2024
1:00pm ET - DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY - Tax Status of Tribally Owned Entities
1:00pm ET - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT and INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE - Water and Sanitation Infrastructure
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Tuesday, December 17, 2024
1:00pm ET - DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY - Tax Status of Tribally Owned Entities
4:30pm ET - FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY - Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance
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Wednesday, December 18, 2024
9:00am ET - BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION - Flandreau and Kyle Education Resource Centers
1:00pm ET - DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY - Tax Status of Tribally Owned Entities
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Thursday, December 19, 2024
5:00pm ET - FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY - Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance
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Friday, December 20, 2024
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs
This notice published the current list of 574 tribal entities recognized by and eligible for funding and services from the BIA by virtue of their status as Indian Tribes.
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Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Regulations
The DOI, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs is issuing revisions to the regulations that implement Tribal Self-Governance, as authorized by title IV of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act. The final rule is effective on January 10, 2025.
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Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program
In an effort to make child support program more effective, OCSS issues this final rule to allow State and Tribal child support agencies the option to use Federal financial participation available under title IV-D of the Social Security Act ot provide employment and training services to eligible noncustodial parents. This rule is effective January 13, 2025.
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Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health
As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, HHS is giving notice that the Advisory Committee on Minority Health will hold a meeting open to the public on January 16, 2025.
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For more information regarding topics provided in the newsletter, please contact NNWO at info@nnwo.org | | |
Navajo Nation Washington Office | www.nnwo.org | | | | |
