Big Fire Statement on DAPL
The United States continues to be a party to the illegal operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Despite a host of court decisions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers effectively ignores the devastation imposed by their failed environmental review process.
Senate Confirms Deb Haaland As First Native American Cabinet Secretary
On Monday, U.S. Representative Deb Haaland was confirmed as Secretary of the Interior by the United States Senate. Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, will be the first Native American to serve as Secretary of the Interior and first Native American Cabinet Secretary.
President Joe Biden Signs the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Into Law
On March 11, 2021 President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”). This $1.9 trillion package is the largest single investment in the American people ever. Broad goals of the law are to get vaccinations into arms, support families, continue to keep small businesses afloat and reopen schools.
President Biden Signs Executive Order Affirming His Commitment to Tribal Consultations
On January 26, 2021 President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order affirming his commitment to tribal consultations and seeking to improve the tribal consultation process. A number of federal departments have set up tribal consultations to carry out the Executive Order. Please find this update on the Executive Order and tribal consultations scheduled for March.
President Joe Biden Begins to Fill His Cabinet and Roll Out Policies for First 100 Days
In less than a month, we have witnessed a new Congress getting sworn in, an insurrection at our United States Capitol and a Presidential Inauguration. The world continues to battle a pandemic and Americans have begun to get COVID-19 vaccinations.
President-elect Joe Biden announced that U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland, will be nominated to be the 54th United States Secretary of the Interior.
On Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden announced that U.S. Representative Debra Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, will be nominated to be the 54th United States Secretary of the Interior. As one of the first Native American women elected to the United States Congress and a 35th generation New Mexican, Rep. Haaland serves the 1st district of New Mexico.
Operation Warp Speed to Accelerate the Development, Approval and Distribution of a COVID-19 Vaccine
In May 2020, the United States initiated Operation Warp Speed to accelerate the development, approval and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. Initial distribution of a vaccine is slated for January 2021. The United States Indian Health Service (“IHS”) has been consulting with tribes and urban Indian health organizations with some pretty rapid turnaround times.
