Ed. Note: There have been several schedule changes. Some of the latest are reported here.

The United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) is holding its annual Impact Week Meeting in the Washington, D.C., area this week.

Today, attendees will get a legislative update from aides in the House and Senate. Matthew Thomas, chief sachem of the Narragansett Tribe, will talk about his tribe's recent court case.

On Tuesday, tribal leaders will hear from Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, and Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), the Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. U.S. Attorney Thomas B. Heffelfinger will speak on homeland security and tribal jurisdiction.

Also on Tuesday, Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communication Commission, will sign a "best practices" agreement. USET has been at the forefront of ensuring tribes are notified when cell tower construction affects tribal sites.

Wednesday will be dedicated to housing, health and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. New BIA head Dave Anderson has been invited to speak. Dr. Charles Grim, director of the Indian Health Service, will speak about the agency's fiscal year 2005 budget.

The conference wraps up on Thursday. An agenda can be found at http://www.usetinc.org/board.htm.

USET represents 24 tribes from Maine to Florida to Texas.

Relevant Links:
United South and Eastern Tribes - http://www.usetinc.org