Legislative Update:

In summary, legislation regarding Native Americans put forth in the 114th Congress.   

H.R.3166 —Native American Suicide Prevention Act of 2015: To amend section 520E of the Public Health Service Act to require States and their designees receiving grants for development or implementation of statewide suicide early intervention and prevention strategies to consult with each Federally recognized Indian tribe, tribal organization, and urban Indian organization in a State. (last Action: 7/22/2015: introduced)

H.R.511—Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015: Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its lands is not considered an employer (thus excluding such enterprises or institutions from coverage by such Act). (Last Action: 7/22/2015: introduced)

S.286—Department of the Interior Tribal Self Governance Act of 2015: Amends the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (the Act) to change the Department of the Interior's process for approving self-governance compacts and annual funding agreements with Indian tribes. Modifies Interior's process to make it similar to processes used by the Department of Health and Human Service's Indian Health Service. (Last Action: 7/22/2015 passed Senate and referred to House Committee on Natural Resources) 

S.1771 & H.R. 3080—Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt Indian tribal governments and other tribal entities from the employer health coverage mandate. (Last Action Senate: 7/15/2015: Read Twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Last House Action: 7/15/2015: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means).

H.R. 3043 & S. 1749—Tribal Tax Incentive for Renewable Energy Act of 2015: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow allocation of certain renewable energy tax credits to Indian tribes, and for other purposes. (Last Action House: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Last Action Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance).

Updates 5 pieces of legislation discussed last month are as follows:

S.Res. 62: A resolution designating the week beginning on February 8, 2015, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" (last action: 2/2/15 Status: passed senate)

H.R. 1168: Native American Children’s Safety Act (last action: 6/2/15 Status: received in the Senate) House Report: 114-79 [no action since 6/02/2015]

S. 184: Native American Children’s Safety Act (last action 6/1/15 Status: Passed Senate) Senate Report: 114-37 [No action] 

S.246: Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act (last action: 6/19/15 Status: Passed Senate and referred to the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs) Senate Report: 114-39 [No Action]

H.R.360: Companion Bill S. 710 Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2015 (last action: 3/24/15 Status: Passed House, received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs; 06/04/2015: Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs pursuant to the order of May 27, 1988 for a period not to exceed 60 days).

House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology: Promoting Broadband Infrastructure Investment

On July 22, 2015, the House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology held a Hearing to obtain input on how current federal policies foster or obstruct the deployment of broadband telecommunications services.

The Subcommittee sought specific recommendations on how to create federal policies to improve colocation of telecommunications services on federal lands and buildings, to supplement private investment in rural and tribal areas, and to understand how industry is making services more affordable by developing next generation technologies.

Witnesses included industry specialists and Stephen Lewis, Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona. Governor Lewis' testimony can be read here.  

Hearing Summary:

Telecommunications industry representatives highlighted the growing need for wireless and terrestrial broadband services and stated that the need is far exceeding current capabilities. Governor Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community indicated that tribes' primary source of funding comes from federal programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and from the Universal Service Fund (USF) managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

Governor Lewis relayed to the Subcommittee that private investment usually bypasses tribal lands due to immense complications with fractionated land interests that delay rights-of-way processes, and further, that there is no economic incentive for build-out on tribal lands due to spare population densities.

Governor Lewis also highlighted the ongoing Digital Divide that exists in Indian Country stating that 68 percent of tribal lands in the lower 48 states lack access to high-speed Internet services.

Save the Date:

Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program - Fall 2015 Cohort 

Wednesday, November 04, 2015 8:00 AM -Friday, November 06, 2015 5:00 PM

Registration is open now; register here. 

The ASU American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) & Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) are excited to announce the upcoming Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program, to be held November 4-6, 2015 at Arizona State University. This professional certificate program for tribal government financial management professionals provides an in-depth background in tribal government finance, Indian law, taxation, and economic development. Attendees can earn up to 20 CPE credits.  

Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program Features: 

• Principles of federal Indian law and its effect on tribal financial management
• Government accounting standards and principles
• Compliance with the new OMB Uniform Guidance
• Self-determination, self-governance, financial compliance, and record keeping
• Effects of federal, state, and tribal taxation on tribal financial management, including development of a revenue allocation plan
• Best practices for internal controls and procurement policies
• Key tools for developing and managing budgets
• Emerging financial issues in Indian Country

Please do not hesitate to call the American Indian Policy Institute at (480) 965-1055 or reply to this email with any questions. Please feel free to share this information!