Eleven bill package includes Udall bills to support Native American language reauthorization, Tribal small business development, Native American veterans housing, and Tribal self-governance

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced unanimous Senate passage of 11 Indian Affairs Committee bills, including two Udall-led bills and two Udall-cosponsored bills.  All 11 bills will now be sent to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

“The 11 bills passed out of the Senate today seek to level the playing field for Tribes and Native communities. As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I’m proud to continue this committee’s long bipartisan tradition of working together to advance policies that promote Tribal sovereignty and Tribal parity,” said Udall. “These bills are an important first step toward achieving Indian Country’s priorities during the 116th Congress, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to get each and every one of them across the finish line and signed into law.” 

Udall’s S. 256, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, and S. 294, the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, were included in the package heading over to the House of Representatives. 

The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act will amend existing law to reauthorize two federal Native American language programs at the Administration for Native Americans until 2024, expand eligibility for those programs to smaller-sized Tribal language programs, and allow both programs to offer longer grant periods.

The Native American Business Incubators Program Act will create a competitive grant program in the Department of the Interior’s Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development to establish and maintain business incubators that specialize in assisting Native-owned small businesses to navigate those unique challenges.

“Esther Martinez’s work as a Native language advocate has inspired generations of Native Americans and New Mexicans,” said Udall. “Her legacy stands as a call to action for Congress to continue its support for Native communities that are working to maintain and revitalize their languages. I’m proud to lead this bill named in her honor.”

Udall continued, “Supporting Native small business development will strengthen communities across Indian Country. My Native American Business Incubators Program Act will help jumpstart Tribal economies by filling critical gaps for Native entrepreneurs, who often face unique barriers in access to capital and resources.  It will provide workspace, professional networking opportunities, and access to community expertise –  particularly as it applies to doing business on trust lands.”

Two Udall-cosponsored bills were also included among the 11 bills passed by the Senate:

·S. 209, the Practical Reforms and Other Goals to Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination (PROGRESS) for Indian Tribes Act, will streamline the Department of the Interior’s self-governance process and provide Indian Tribes with greater flexibility to efficiently tailor, consolidate and administer federal programs for their communities.·S. 257, the Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2019, will formally codify a joint Tribal housing initiative between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program to provide rental and housing assistance to homeless veterans in Indian Country.

“For more than 30 years now, Tribal self-governance programs have empowered Native communities and affirmed Tribal sovereignty.  The PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act builds on that success by strengthening Tribes’ ability to exercise self-determination and self-governance of federal Indian programs.  By promoting local control and administration of federal Indian programs and providing clear requirements for negotiating compacts and contracts, Tribes will be better able to customize federal Indian programs to suit their communities’ needs,” said Udall.

“Veterans should never have to worry about having a roof over their heads once they return from service.  The Tribal HUD-VASH Act recognizes the dedication of Native veterans by ensuring that they have equal access to this critical Veterans housing program,” said Udall.

The Senate also passed the following seven bills in its Indian Affairs package.

·S. 46, the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act·S. 50, the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act·S. 199, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act·S. 212, Indian Community Economic Enhancement (ICEE) Act·S. 216, Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act·S. 224, A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Tanana Tribal Council located in Tanana, Alaska, and to the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation located in Dillingham, Alaska, and for other purposes.·S. 832, A bill to nullify the Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, concluded on November 15, 1865.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.