National Congress of American Indians 2019 Annual Policy Update Convention & Marketplace Albuquerque, NM TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... 1 Policy Overview ................................................................................................................................... 2 Agriculture and Nutrition.................................................................................................................... 3 Farm Bill ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Budget and Appropriations ................................................................................................................. 6 Census ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Economic and Workforce Development ........................................................................................... 13 Taxation and Finance ....................................................................................................................... 13 Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act ........................................................................................................... 17 Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.................................................................................. 18 Workforce Development .................................................................................................................. 19 Human Resources and Social Services .............................................................................................. 22 Education and Language................................................................................................................... 22 Elders and Disabilities ...................................................................................................................... 26 Health............................................................................................................................................... 27 Veterans ........................................................................................................................................... 32 Tribal Assistance For Needy Families .............................................................................................. 34 Infrastructure..................................................................................................................................... 37 Telecommunications......................................................................................................................... 37 Housing ............................................................................................................................................ 41 Transportation .................................................................................................................................. 43 International Issues ............................................................................................................................ 47 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................ 50 Protection of Marine Biology ........................................................................................................... 51 Justice and Civil Rights ..................................................................................................................... 52 Jurisdiction, Courts, Law Enforcement, and Victims Services .......................................................... 52 Voting Rights ................................................................................................................................... 55 Juvenile Justice................................................................................................................................. 56 Child Welfare ................................................................................................................................... 57 Emergency Response & Homeland Security ..................................................................................... 58 Land, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Environment ................................................... 62 Tribal Homelands ............................................................................................................................. 62 Trust Modernization ......................................................................................................................... 64 Energy .............................................................................................................................................. 65 Water ............................................................................................................................................... 67 Fish and Wildlife .............................................................................................................................. 69 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................ 72 Cultural Protection ........................................................................................................................... 74 Tribal Governance ............................................................................................................................. 78 Self-Governance ............................................................................................................................... 78 1 | P a g e POLICY OVERVIEW The first session of the 116th Congress is nearing its end, and the FY 2020 budget process remains a central feature of activity on Capitol Hill. Congress and the Administration finally reached an agreement on spending levels in August. However, the delay in enacting the budget deal set back progress on passing appropriations legislation. To avoid a second shutdown in 2019, Congress and the Administration agreed to a continuing resolution that will fund the government through November 21, 2019. Despite this time extension, issues like immigration, gun control, and the impeachment inquiry will complicate negotiations between the House, Senate, and White House. This ongoing uncertainty in the federal budget process emphasizes the need to authorize advance appropriations for federal programs serving Indian Country. NCAI is working with tribal nations and partners to advance legislation that would secure advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Senate has begun its work on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization and has focused on producing its own legislation rather than considering the House passed bill. Senate Republicans have circulated a discussion draft that recognizes the need to expand the tribal jurisdiction provisions in VAWA 2013 by including crimes against children and law enforcement and sexual violence, stalking, and trafficking. However, the proposal also includes provisions similar to those rejected in 2013 that impose requirements on tribal courts that do not apply to other courts. NCAI continues to engage with Congress to produce VAWA legislation that supports tribal sovereign rights to protect tribal citizens and communities. NCAI is also advocating to advance many other tribal priorities. During Tribal Unity Impact Days, NCAI, tribal leaders, and partners urged the Senate to finally pass legislation to fix the Carcieri case; urged the House to pass several Senate bills that would promote tribal economic development, alleviate homelessness among Native veterans, preserve and strengthen Native languages, and improve the Self-Governance program at the Department of the Interior; and called on Congress to include strong tribal provisions in the next surface transportation reauthorization. With respect to nominations, Indian Country still awaits a Senate-confirmed Director of the Indian Health Service. In July, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs considered and voted in favor of the nomination of E. Sequoyah Simermeyer to be the next Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. His nomination now must be considered by the full Senate. Indian Country has been actively engaging the Administration on several major priorities. In FY 2019, Congress again tasked the Department of Justice (DOJ) with administering the tribal set-aside from the Crime Victims Fund. NCAI urged DOJ to ensure that all of the funding set-aside for tribal nations is distributed to Indian Country this year, and we understand that DOJ obligated all of the funds appropriated for FY 2019. NCAI is also working with tribal nations to secure a commitment from the Administration to amend the memorandum of agreement that implements the Indian Employment, Training and Related Service Consolidation Act of 2017, which falls far short of the intent of the Act. Although the 2020 elections are still more than a year away, events like the Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum and efforts across Indian Country to engage with candidates are building momentum and emphasize the importance of the Native vote. At NCAI, we are committed to advocating on behalf of Indian Country to ensure