{"id":14611,"date":"2021-08-04T11:14:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T15:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=14611"},"modified":"2021-08-04T11:14:32","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T15:14:32","slug":"aaron-payment-investing-in-infrastructure-in-indian-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/04\/aaron-payment-investing-in-infrastructure-in-indian-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Payment: Investing in infrastructure in Indian Country"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/04\/aaron-payment-investing-in-infrastructure-in-indian-country\/aaronpayment-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-14613\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" data-attachment-id=\"14613\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/04\/aaron-payment-investing-in-infrastructure-in-indian-country\/aaronpayment-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/04\/aaronpayment-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1920\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Aaron Payment\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Aaron Payment. Photo by &lt;A href=&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk&quot;&gt;Kevin Abourezk&lt;\/A&gt; &lt;A href=&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk&quot;&gt;&lt;I aria-hidden=true class=&quot;fab fa-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;\/I&gt;&lt;\/A&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/04\/aaronpayment-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/04\/aaronpayment-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Aaron Payment\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14613\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Aaron Payment. Photo by <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk<\/A> <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Indian Country Proposed Infrastructure $12 Billion Needed and Welcomed<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Wednesday, August 4, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Aaron Payment<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Chairperson, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><a href=https:\/\/www.saulttribe.com\/>saulttribe.com<\/a><\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIt is especially gratifying to see President Joe Biden lead in pushing to address the Nation\u2019s aging infrastructure with roads, bridges, water systems, schools, newer and greener energy platforms, public transit and high-speed rail, and much needed technology and broadband upgrades. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nPresident Biden\u2019s and key members of Congress announcement of a compromise deal for $1.2 Trillion American Job\u2019s Infrastructure plan will bring an additional $12 Billion to Indian Country and a total appropriation to Indian County to historical levels to more than $44 Billion dollars in the first year of this Administration and Congressional session.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAs Chairperson of the largest tribe east of the Mississippi, the <a href=https:\/\/www.saulttribe.com\/>Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians<\/a> and 1st Vice President of the <a href=https:\/\/www.ncai.org\/>National Congress of American Indians<\/a>, I routinely remind the White House, Senate and the House to recognize and honor the federal treaty and trust obligation due to the over 500 million acres of land ceded in exchange for \u201chealth, education and social welfare\u201d into perpetuity.\r\nDuring the 2020 Presidential campaign and during the Biden presidential transition, tribal nations collectively pushed for a cabinet post, our share of the American Rescue Plan Act, full funding (mandatory and advanced appropriations) and inclusion in an infrastructure package. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_twitter-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NCAI1944\/status\/1408255035927109632\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/30\/e4sgfxcxiaaq20i.jpg\" alt=\"National Congress of American Indians (@NCAI1944) on X\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NCAI1944\/status\/1408255035927109632\">\n\t\t\tNational Congress of American Indians (@NCAI1944) on X\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NCAI1944\/status\/1408255035927109632\">\n\t\t\t<p>NCAI is encouraged by President Biden&#8217;s support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. Read the full statement: https:\/\/t.co\/5G0f6GEO90<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"X (formerly Twitter)\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tX (formerly Twitter)\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSo far, we have done well under a Biden-Harris Administration. Here are a few \u201cglows and grows\u201d:\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">GLOWS<\/div>\r\n\u2022 Biden\u2019s Presidential Memo on extending EO 13175 on Tribal Consultation with deadlines was monumental and issued within the first five days of office;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Secretary Haaland\u2019s nomination and appointment was historic;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 $2.5 B proposed increase in the President\u2019s first Indian Health Service budget submitted to Congress;\r\n\u2022 $31 B in Rescue Act Funds and deadline extension of Cares Act funding;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 $1 B for Broadband ushered through by VP Harris, the White House and Treasury;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 With Biden-Harris proposed select mandatory and advanced appropriations, we are taking not steps but great leaps forward.<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Now, $12 B more in proposed infrastructure funds (broadly $6 B for water, sewer and sanitation; $4 B for BIA roads and bridges; and +$2 B more for broad band) &#038; eligibility for additional funds to states, territories and tribes.\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><P><\/P>\r\nWe still have work to do but I am gratified that we are working our way through the tick sheet. Here are a few additional policy items (Grows) deserving our attention.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">GROWS<\/div>\r\n\u2022 Violence Against Women Act reauthorization with key Indian country provisions;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Clean Carcieri fix;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Full participation by Indian Country in key provisions of the Affordable Care Act including \u201cIndian Health Care Portability\u201d through automatic enrollment of American Indians in Medicaid Expansion and the Exchange under a 51st state concept;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Indian Education reform for our American Indian students (7% under the Bureau of Indian Education and the 93% under the Department of Education) including self-governance-like education tribal grant schools for districts who have statistically significant lower Native American student graduation rates;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons tribal pilots and permanence and Indian Boarding School reconciliation and repatriation as the first MMIP at the hands of federal Indian policy;<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Permanently institutionalizing the White House Counsel and codifying an accountability measure for Tribal Consultation, Tribal Advisories and Budget Formulation for cogent federal Indian policy that transcends Presidential administrations; and<P><\/P>\r\n\u2022 Administrative leadership in a federal Tribal Action Plan for ameliorating the legacy of Federal Indian Policy that led to historical and inter generational trauma as evidenced through the US. Civil Rights Commission Broken Promises Report.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSpecific and quantitative benchmarks need to be established to ensure positive change and measurable success. Just a reminiscence from my college professor days (teaching policy, political science and native studies) on how policy soup becomes political platforms and &#8212; subsequently &#8212; administrative agendas. The first step in this process, however, is the advocacy and direct representation tribal leaders are called upon to do to honor our ancestors and prepare for future generations.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<HR><EM>Chairperson Aaron Payment, a high school dropout at 15, earned a GED at 16 and entered college at 17. Dr Payment holds a doctorate degree in education, a master\u2019s in education specialist, a master\u2019s in education administration and a master\u2019s in public administration. He also serves as the 1st Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians, President of the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, and President of the United Tribes of Michigan.<\/em><HR>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_indianz-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/05\/aaron-payment-indian-country-deserves-equity-in-infrastructure-plan\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/30\/aaronpayment-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"Aaron Payment: Indian Country deserves equity in infrastructure plan\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/05\/aaron-payment-indian-country-deserves-equity-in-infrastructure-plan\/\">\n\t\t\tAaron Payment: Indian Country deserves equity in infrastructure plan\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/05\/aaron-payment-indian-country-deserves-equity-in-infrastructure-plan\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>Tribes ceded over 500 million acres of land to make this Country great and obligated the federal government to provide \u201chealth, education and social welfare\u201d into perpetuity.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Indianz.Com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/05\/aaron-payment-indian-country-deserves-equity-in-infrastructure-plan\/\" title=\"Aaron Payment: Indian Country deserves equity in infrastructure plan\">Aaron Payment: Indian Country deserves equity in infrastructure plan<\/a> (April 5, 2021)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The American Jobs Plan will bring an additional $12 billion in much-needed infrastructure to Indian Country.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[18,20,9,14,22],"tags":[590,385,1416,1308,214,52,418,736,170,157,88,210,1319,180,53,186,387,197,7,1680,89,154,455,153],"class_list":["post-14611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-indian-trust","category-opinion","category-politics","category-technology","tag-aaron-payment","tag-aca","tag-american-jobs-plan","tag-american-rescue-plan","tag-appropriations","tag-bie","tag-boarding-schools","tag-carcieri","tag-congress","tag-consultation","tag-deb-haaland","tag-ihs","tag-infrastructure","tag-internet","tag-joe-biden","tag-land-into-trust","tag-medicaid","tag-mmiw","tag-ncai","tag-too-tribe","tag-treasury","tag-treaties","tag-vawa","tag-water","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-3NF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/04\/aaronpayment-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}