One month in, and Congress is diving into some complexities. Health care is not that easy to fix, it turns out. And budgets don’t balance when you throw in big spending with tax cuts. It’s all part of the reality check that visits each new Congress as it gets rolling.
In this update, we’ll look at some serious reviews of federal agency relationships with Indian nations in persistently troublesome areas, including schools, health care, and economic and energy development. Things have finally gotten bad enough that the General Accounting Office has placed these issues on its biennial “High Risk” list, and it is looking for some action on its 41 recommendations for improvement.
We revisit the debate on health care changes and how they would affect tribal citizens. We highlight letters from faith groups and from a bipartisan group of 27 members of Congress urging careful attention to how health care changes play out in Indian country. There’s an interesting update on Standing Rock which may affect the legal challenges that are yet to come. And finally, we take a look at some nominations that will be important to Indian country.
And don’t forget, we’re looking for a Congressional Advocate on Native American Policy to begin in October 2017. This is a two year(+) professional fellowship for a person who will manage FCNL’s Native American program. Take a look at the description, and think whether you know someone who’s just right for this position. Let them know!
You can read all the articles together here, or select your favorites below.
Watching Congress on Native American Issues
Selected bills from the 115th Congress of interest in Indian Country