Via the National Congress of American Indians:
Deal Reached to Reopen Government Until Feb. 15
President Trump announced today he will sign a stopgap spending bill to reopen government agencies for three weeks. This will provide a temporary reprieve to federal workers who have not been paid in nearly a month, and give a House and Senate conference committee time to seek a deal on FY 2019 Homeland Security appropriations, which would include determining whether $5.7 billion would be provided for a border wall.
A continuing resolution would provide funding through February 15, 2019. Another funding lapse would be possible after February 15. The President has also said that the use of emergency powers to tap existing funds for wall-building is still on the table.
NCAI recently testified at a House hearing regarding the impact of the shutdown on Indian Country. Read the full testimony here.
NCAI and other national Native organizations also sent a letter urging the President and Congress to immediately end the partial government shutdown, which breaks trust obligations the federal government owes to tribal nations. To view the joint letter that outlines the wide-ranging impacts of the shutdown on Indian Country, please click here.
About the National Congress of American Indians:
Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit www.ncai.org.
