National Congress of American Indians Executive Council Winter Session Begins Today in DC

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Native Brief: WASHINGTON – The National Congress of American Indians Executive Council Winter Session will convene beginning today until Thursday at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington.

The 2012 NCAI Executive Council Winter Session will be a time for tribal leaders to gather together in our nation's capital to discuss ways in which tribes can continue to contribute to the success and prosperity of "Our America." During the Executive Council Winter Session, tribal leaders will engage with members of Congress and senior Administration officials to focus on the key legislative issues affecting tribes that the 112th Congress will be debating and considering in this session.

During a packed agenda, several Obama administration Cabinet Members will speak to the tribal leaders, including: Secretary Arne Duncan, Department of Education; Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services; Administrator Lisa Jackson, Environmental Protection Agency; Secretary John Bryson, Department of Commerce;Secretary Hilda Solis, Department of Labor, Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security; Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Labor; and Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture.

Throughout the Executive Council Winter Session, NCAI's Legislative Desk will be available to help provide resources to assist tribal leaders in coordinating Capitol Hill visits.

The National Congress of American Indians strongly urges tribal leaders to make appointments to visit their state's US Senators and Representatives, as well as with members of Congress without tribes in their districts who could benefit from an opportunity to hear from tribal nations.

If Indian Country is to be successful, it is absolutely vital that tribal leaders and advocates act now to educate and alert members of Congress about the key issues before us in the areas of appropriations, trust management, sovereignty protection, transportation, economic development, energy, health care, education, and many more.

Topics important to Indian Country will be discussed during the Executive Council Session, such as violence against Native women, Native Vote 2012, Cobell settlement, among other issues pending before the 112th Congress.

The NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women will meet this morning to focus primarily on the upcoming reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, but will also include international updates. The NCAI Task Force serves as a unified tribal voice opposed to violent crimes perpetrated against Native women.

posted March 5, 2012 9:10 am est