Arlan Melendez, the chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada, has been appointed to serve on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. Melendez is only the second Native American to serve on the panel. The first was Elsie Meeks, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe who was appointed during the Clinton administration and whose term ended earlier this year. Melendez, 58, is a veteran of the Vietnam War and is a regional vice president of the National Congress of American Indians. He helped led the opposition to Bush judicial nominee William G. Myers III. He was appointed to the commission by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada). In recent years, the commission issued two significant reports on Indian health care and federal funding for Indian programs. Get the Story:
Reno tribal leader named to U.S. Civil Rights Commission (AP 10/11) Indian Country Reports:
Broken Promises: Evaluating the Native American Health Care System (July 2004) | A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country (July 2003) Relevant Links:
United States Commission on Civil Rights - http://www.usccr.gov Related Stories:
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Editorial: Don't close Civil Rights offices (05/09)
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Another resignation at troubled Civil Rights Commission (03/16)
Civil rights pick opposes affirmative action (12/10)
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Top two on Civil Rights Commission resign (12/8)
Bush appoints new head of Civil Rights Commission (12/7)
Report calls on U.S. to honor health care commitment (08/30)
Editorial: U.S. failing to provide Indian health care (08/30)
Navajos turn out for civil rights commission hearing (05/03)
Civil rights panel to hold hearing in Farmington (04/29)
Report documents unmet needs in Indian Country (7/23)