Congressional panel focuses on 'Broken Promises' report on Indian Country

Wednesday, June 5, 2019  

Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Washington) is hosting tribal leaders and federal officials on Wednesday afternoon for a discussion on the "Broken Promises" report that was issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Released in December 2018, Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans confirmed that the federal government is failing to meet its trust and treaty obligations in a wide range of areas, from health care and education to social services and public safety. It showed that progress has been slow moving even after a 2003 report, known as A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country, highlighted similar concerns.

"Tribal Nations ceded millions of acres of land and natural resources to the United States, often involuntarily. As part of this exchange, promises were made that exist in perpetuity," the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund said in a statement published on Indianz.Com after the report.

"The promises were to ensure for our overall health, well-being, and prosperity," the statement continued. "Unfortunately, despite these ceded lands and resources -- the very foundation of America’s strength and wealth -- the United States continues to fall woefully short of its obligations."

The discussion on the report will take place at 1pm Eastern in HVC-200 in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. It will be webcast on Kilmer's Facebook page.

Participants include:

• Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Washington), Host
• Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), Co-Chair, Congressional Native American Caucus
• Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico), Co-Chair, Congressional Native American Caucus
• Catherine Lhamon, Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
• Karen Narasaki, Lead Commissioner on Broken Promises Report, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
• Jefferson Keel, President, National Congress of American Indians
• Kirk Francis, President, USET Sovereignty Protection Fund
• Fawn Sharp, President, Quinault Indian Nation
• Tara K Sweeney, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior
• Michael D. Weahkee, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services

NEXT WEEK: Attend or tune-in via live-stream to a Congressional Panel Discussion as Congress members, key federal agencies and tribal leaders have a conversation about the ‘Broken Promises’ report. Find the event details here: https://t.co/ZLccdZqUAD pic.twitter.com/6mwSahA1iL

— NCAI (@NCAI1944) May 31, 2019

This Wednesday, June 5, at 1 pm EDT, join us on Capitol Hill for a panel discussion – hosted by @RepDerekKilmer - of our recent report, Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans. Our report at: https://t.co/M6yfk0EKo1 #CivilRights #USCCRReports pic.twitter.com/It1MJGmhn7

— USCCR (@USCCRgov) June 3, 2019

Looking forward to this important conversation! Join the live-stream tomorrow at 1:00pm ET: https://t.co/3tlMJgQm6p https://t.co/rZXto3XEFI

— Rep. Derek Kilmer (@RepDerekKilmer) June 4, 2019

Every American should read the @USCCRgov 's Broken Promises report and then demand federal investments that live up to America's trust and treaty obligations to Native Americans. The country must not waste another decade of inaction. I'll push Congress to deliver. https://t.co/6nJ9LlMmyh

— Rep. Derek Kilmer (@RepDerekKilmer) December 20, 2018

Commission majority found that the federal government is not meeting its trust responsibilities and that budgets & spending of agencies sponsoring #NativeAmerican & Native Hawaiian programs are inadequate. pic.twitter.com/gP0MVXKHDJ

— USCCR (@USCCRgov) December 20, 2018

Today (12/20), at 1:00 pm ET, our Chair @CatherineLhamon & Commissioner @narasakijustice discuss our just-released report, Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans.” https://t.co/Fu9hVQKy8H https://t.co/G9lSXP7EwD https://t.co/Wuc5JigAeT pic.twitter.com/XYblfLDomC

— USCCR (@USCCRgov) December 20, 2018