WEEK IN REVIEW
Noteworthy headlines you might have missed
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DC How a Navajo Nation Bull Rider Became One of the Best in the World - and Brought His Culture to the Masses
The Salt Lake Tribune
Keyshawn Whitehorse (Navajo) will compete Friday and Saturday at Delta Center PBR events. He details his upbringing, how he became a bull rider, and how he's giving back to his community.
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Billy Kirkland (Navajo) Nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs by Trump
Native News Online
Billy Kirkland, citizen of the Navajo Nation, has ben nominated for Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs by President Donald Trump. His nomination was received on Monday, and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Navajo Nation Leaders Raise Alarm Over Reports of Indigenous People Being Questioned and Detained During Immigration Sweeps
CNN
Amid the Trump Administration's attempt to ramp up undocumented immigrant arrests nationwide and carry out the president's deportation pledge, at least 15 Indigenous people in Arizona and New Mexico have reported being stopped at their homes, workplaces, questioned or detained and asked to produce proof of citizenship, according to Navajo Nation officials.
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WEEKLY UPDATES
A glimpse into our office's week
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President Nygren Advocates Legislative Priorities
On Wednesday, President Nygren spent the day on Capitol Hill, meeting with key members of Congress to discuss the Navajo Nation's legislative priorities for 2025 as the 119th Congress begins its work.
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Navajo Citizen William 'Billy' Kirkland III nominated as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
On Wednesday, President Tump nominated Billy Kirkland to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the US Department of the Interior. If confirmed, Kirkland will oversee federal programs ad policies that affect tribal nations, including land management, economic development, education, and federal trust responsibilites.
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House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Holds a Hearing for Assistant Secretary of Indian Health Bill
On February 5, the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a hearing to discuss, among others, H.R. 741, the "Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025." This act would reclassify the position of IHS Director to an Assistant Secretary position under the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Doug Collins Confirmed as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Senate overwhelming voted this week to confirm former Representative Doug Collins of Georgia to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He will lead the largest department in the federal government, and will oversee healthcare, education, cemetery, and social services for our nation's 15.8 million veterans.
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LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
Congressional Committee Activity
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Legislative Activity
S.390 - A bill to require Federal law enforcement agencies to report on cases of missing or murdered Indians, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV), Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
S. Res. 60 - An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Indian Affairs
Sponsored by Senator Murkowski (R-AK), Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
H.R. 226 - Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
Sponsored by Representative Fleischmann (R-TN-3), Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
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News
Murkowski Calls on OMB to Ensure Tribes Are Not Impacted by Executive Orders
Chairman Murkowski (R-AK) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget urging them to immediately issue a memorandum directing all federal agencies to ensure that Indian Tribes and the related Tribal programs and federal funding they receive due to their political status are not affected by the implementation of the President's Executive Orders and policies.
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Murkowski, Schatz Lead Organizational Business Meeting to Recognize Murkowski as Chairman and Schatz as Vice Chairman of SCIA
In the first committee meeting of the 119th Congress, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is formally recognized as the Committee's Chairman, and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) as the Vice Chairman
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Legislative Activity
S.360 - A bill to provide for across-the-board recessions of nonsecurity discretionary spending
Sponsored by Senator Blackburn (R-TN), Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations (02/03/2025)
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Upcoming Hearings
No Upcoming Hearings
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News
Murray, Schumer, Wyden, Schatz, Warren Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly-Sensitive Government Payment System, Threatening to Choke Off Funding for the American People
Vice Chair Murray (D-WA) and her colleagues outlined the threat of Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency being granted access to the federal government's central payments system and how it can impact the American people.
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Top Appropriators: Trump Administration's "Deferred Resignation" Scheme is Deceptive, Legally Questionable, & Puts Vital Taxpayer Services At Risk
In an effort to protect taxpayers and federal workers and uphold the law, Vice Chair Murray (D-WA) and others, sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management pointing out that the Trump Administration's buyout program is "deceptive," "legally dubious," and would undermine a host of vital government services people rely on, and "should be rescinded immediately."
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Vice Chair Murray Joins Colleagues in Holding Senate Floor All Night to Send Stark Warning Against Confirming Russ Vought to Lead OMB
Vice Chair Murray (D-WA) helped lead Senate Democrats in holding the Senate floor for a full 30 hours ahead of a final confirmation vote on Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget
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Murray, Sanders, Baldwin, DeLauro, Scott Demand Answers on Trump's Plans to Dismantle Education Department
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and colleagues, sent a letter to the acting Secretary of Education asking for answers on recent actions taken by the Trump administration to put federal workers on administrative leave, coerce employees into leaving their jobs, provide access to students' sensitive data, and illegally freeze vital funding.
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Murray, Merkley, DeLauro, Pingree Demand Answers on Illegal EPA Funding Cuts That Harm Public Health, Environment and Families
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and others demanded answers from recently confirmed Environmental Protect Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin about the funding freezes at the agency
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Murray, Merkley, King, Heinrich Sound the Alarm Over National Parks Staffing Shortages Due to. Trump's Hiring Freeze
Vice Chair Murray (D-WA), and others, urged newly confirmed Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to immediately take action to resolve looming staffing shortages at the National Park Service
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Legislative Activity
H.R. 1010 - To require federal law enforcement agencies to report on cases of missing or murdered Indians, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Representative Leger Fenernandez, Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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 (02/0502025)
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Upcoming Hearings
No Upcoming Hearings
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News
Committee Considers Solutions Supporting Alaska Native Veterans ,Flood Resiliency for Tribes
The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on four bills to support Alaska Native veterans, enable economic development, improve flood residency of tribal lands and analyze the administrative structure of the Indian Health Service
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Legislative Activity
H.R. 1029 - To abolish the United States Agency for International Development
Sponsored by Representative Steube (R-FL-17), Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 (02/05/2025)
H.R. 1052 - To rescind certain unobligated balances relating to charging and fueling grants and national electric vehicle grants
Sponsored by Representative Burlison (R-MO-7), Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in additional to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 (02/06/2025)
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Upcoming Hearings
Oversight Hearing - Mexico's Water Treaty Violations and the Impact on Americans
Tuesday, February 11 in 2359 Rayburn at 10:00am
Career Ready Students: Innovations from Community Colleges and the Private Sector
Wednesday, February 12 in 2358-C Rayburn at 10:00am
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News
Cole, Cavert, Díaz-Balart Support Maximum Pressure Against Iran
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK-04) and others released a statement in support of President Trump's implementation of a National Security Presidential Memorandum
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TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS
Consultation Schedule for Next Week
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Monday, February 10, 2025
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Tuesday, February 11, 2025
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Wednesday, February 12, 2025
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Thursday, February 13, 2025
TBD - INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE - IHS Calendar Year 2025 Health Information Technology Modernization Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Session
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Friday, February 14, 2025
NO CONSULTATIONS
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Notice of Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women Meeting
The Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice has scheduled a meeting of the Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women. The meeting will take place on February 10, 2025 from 1:00pm to 5:30pm ET
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Administration for Native Americans Project Outcome Assessment Survey
The Administration for Children and Families is requesting a 3-year extension of the Administration for Native Americans Project Outcome Assessment Survey (OMB #: 0970-0379, expiration 6/30/2025). The survey was revised based on a review by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) and feedback from grantees, which identified some data elements that could be eliminated and areas that could be clarified. Comments are due by February 12, 2025.
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Census Bureau's Proposed Race/Ethnicity Code List for the American Community Survey and the 2030 Census
The Census Bureau is seeking feedback on the proposed race/ethnicity code list that will be used when the combined race/ethnicity question is implemented in the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2030 Census. The Census Bureau aims to enhance and improve the code list that was used in the 2020 Census and is currently used in the ACS to ensure that detailed race and/or ethnicity responses are accurately coded and tabulated in future data collections. Comments are due by February 18, 2025.
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Indian Health Service Customer Service Satisfaction and Similar Surveys
The Indian Health Service invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on the information collection Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0917- 0036, “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.” Comments are due by February 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 | | | | |
