Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Indian Health Service Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this bill. As the Democratic cochair of the Native American Caucus, I am here to promote respect for tribal sovereignty, to fight for the needs of Native American families, and to call our Federal Government to uphold its trust and treaty obligations.

Mr. Cole, my Republican cochair, Ranking Member Moran, and Mr. Simpson, the author of this legislation, share those very same goals; but I strongly believe that the bill before us today does not meet the needs of Indian Country; a broader solution is needed.

The National Conference of American Indians has asked us to ``reopen government operations for all Federal agencies that meet trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations, and to stop the sequester of 2014.''

And I have heard that same message loud and clear from Minnesota tribal leaders. Mr. Speaker, when we consider Federal funding for tribal nations, we are talking about government-to-government relationships. This means the entire Federal Government needs to be open and functioning. Many services, as has been pointed out, that are vital to Indian Country are not funded within BIA or IHS. The Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Justice, Transportation, and other agencies within HHS or Interior all have Native American accounts. Food distribution on Indian reservations is administered by the Department of Agriculture, and no funds are able to replenish food reserves that support 76,000 low-income Native American Indians each month.

In Minnesota, winter is on its way, and tribal development housing has been brought to a halt for the White Earth Nation because the Bureau of Land Management is closed. Mr. Speaker, I could list dozens of other important tribal partnerships and contracts that this bill will not reopen, and I have one example I am going to enter for the Record from the Oglala Sioux on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

To support tribal nations, we need to bring an end to this shutdown and vote on a clean funding bill for the entire government. I will vote ``no'' on this bill.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe issued a press release that the U.S. Government shutdown is creating untenable economic conditions for some of the poorest Indian tribes. The tribe, with its 45,000 membership and 3.1 million acre Pine Ridge Indian Reservation located in southwestern South Dakota, stands to suffer severe economic repercussions directly caused by the shutdown of the United States Government. Federal funding for critical tribal programs is inaccessible during the shutdown which will force the Tribe to close programs and furlough hundreds of tribal employees if Congress does not reopen the United States Government. Over fifty percent of the Tribe's programs will be affected. The USDA Food Distribution Program will be terminated. The Suicide Prevention Program (SAMSHA Department of Health and Human Services), the Homeless Veterans Program (Department of Veteran Affairs), and the Emergency Youth Shelter Program (Department of Interior) will be suspended. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance and other vital services will be cut off, which is especially concerning given that tribal members, including elders, are struggling with the aftermath of the blizzard.

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