WEEK IN REVIEW
Noteworthy headlines you might have missed
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The Native American Vote in the 2024 Presidential Election
Brookings
The 2024 American Electorate Voter Poll addressed the challenges of flawed data on Native American voters by suing a nationally representative sample, ensuring their voices were included in election analyses and policy discussions.
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The Twenty-First Century's Best Works of Native American History
The New Yorker
Ned Blackhawk, who won the 2023 National Book Award for his groundbreaking reappraisal of US history, discusses some of the best recent books about Native America.
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Senate Democrat Urges Biden to Grant Clemency to Leonard Peltier
The Hill
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chair Brian Schatz (D-HI) called on President Biden to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier before he leaves office.
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Suspect in United Healthcare CEO Shooting Remains at Large: Live Updates
AP News
On December 4, the United Healthcare Insurance Company CEO was shot and killed in Midtwon Manhattan. The shooter engraved the bullets with the words, "deny," "defend," and "depose," alluding to the insurance company's strategy to safe money by denying claims or delaying the repayment. As of right now, the only information at hand of the suspect is security camera footage of a hooded figure.
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WEEKLY UPDATES
A glimpse into our office's week
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President Nygren Advocates for Water Rights Settlements, RECA, and Infrastructure Needs | |
Director Ahasteen and President Nygren meet with Congressman Vasquez (D-NM)
Navajo Nation President Nygren and the NNWO engaged in a series of meetings with congressional leaders and federal officials to advocate for pressing legislative priorities.
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Preparing for Change:
Analyzing the Incoming Cabinet Picks for the Trump Administration and Strategic Implications for the Navajo Nation
NNWO compiled detailed biographies and analyses on the incoming cabinet picks of the Trump administration. With Senate confirmations approaching in January, this initiative aims to provide insights into the nominees' backgrounds, prior work with Native communities, and potential impact on advocacy efforts.
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Navajo Nation President Advocates for Language Preservation and Education Through Powerful Book Discussion
On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President was invited to participate in a panel discussion at his alma mater, the University of Southern California. He was joined by First Lady Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren and Dean Pedro Noguera of the USC Rossier School of Education who led the panel in an engaged heartfelt discussion on the importance of the Navajo language, history, and education.
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NNWO Attends White House Native American Heritage Month Event | NNWO staff with the cast of Dark Winds, including Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Toushi Allison | On Friday, November 22, the NNWO team attended a White House event in honor of Native American Heritage month. The evening's events centered around AMC's hit series Dark Winds, based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn and Chee novels. | | |
LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
Congressional Committee Activity
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Legislative Activity
S. 1898 - Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2023, sponsored by Senator Luján (D-NM)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 661 (12/04/24)
S. 4442 - Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024, sponsored by Senator Tester (D-MT)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 662 (12/04/24)
S. 4505 - Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, sponsored by Senator Heinrick (D-NM)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 663 (12/04/24)
S. 4643 - Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, sponsored by Senator Heinrich (D-NM)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 664 (12/04/24)
S. 4998 - Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, sponsored by Senator Heinrich (D-NM)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 665 (12/04/24)
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Upcoming Hearings
No Upcoming Hearings.
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News
Schatz Urges President Biden to Pardon Native American Activist Leonard Peltier in Final Weeks of Term
Senator Schatz (D-HI), Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today again called on President Biden to pardon Native American Activist Leonard Peltier.
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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
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. 10298 - Keep Our Correctional Officers Paid Act, sponsored by Representative Thompson (R-PA-15)
Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations (12/04/24)
H.R. 10309 - To Make Certain Funds Available to Provide Assistance Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in response to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, and for other purposes, sponsored by Representatives Ogles (R-TN-5)
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 (12/05/24)
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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 9, 2024
12:00pm ET - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
2:00pm ET - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - Indigenous Knowledge Handbook Revisions
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Tuesday, December 10, 2024
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Wednesday, December 11, 2024
3:00pm ET - CENSUS BUREAU - Race/Ethnicity Code List for the American Community Survey and the 2030 Census
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Thursday, December 12, 2024
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Friday, December 13, 2024
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Adoptions and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System
This rule finalizes revisions to the AFCARS regulation proposed on February 23. The rule requires state title IV-E agencies to collect and report to ACF additional data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) for children in the AFCARS Out-of-Home Care Reporting Population. Rule is effective February 3, 2025.
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Rights of Way
The National Park Service revises regulations governing the application, processing, and issuance of right of way (ROW) permits for lands and waters administered by NPS. The revisions align NPS processes more closely with those of other DOI bureaus by allowing for a pre-application meeting, identifying a common standard application form, and broadening methods the NPS can use to determine fair market value. Rule is in effective January 6, 2025.
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Public Meeting of the Advisory Board of Exceptional Children
The Bureau of Indian Education is announcing that the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children will hold a two day in-person and online meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to meet the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 for Indian children with disabilities. The meeting will be held on January 16 and January 17, 2024.
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Administrative Requirements for an Election to Exclude Applicable Unincorporated Organizations From the Application of Subchapter K
This documents contains proposed regulations that would provide certain administrative requirements for unincorporated organizations taking advantage of modifications to the rules governing elections to be excluded from the application of partnership tax rules. Comments must be received by January 21, 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 | | | | |
