Title: NCAI Support for Amendment to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act to Treat Indian Tribes Equally with other Governments

 

WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest and largest national organization established in 1944 and comprised of representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and local Tribal concerns; and

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of NCAI; and,

WHEREAS, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) treats Indian tribes less favorably than other governments by requiring that Indian tribes pay premiums for unemployment workers compensation insurance just as private employers must, rather than on a reimbursement system based on actual benefits paid out, while all other governments within the United States are allowed to operate on a reimbursement system, resulting in significant cost savings that are not currently available to Indian tribes; and

WHEREAS, the trust responsibility which the United States has for Indian tribes and the government-to-government relationships that exist between the United States and Indian tribes dictates that Indian tribes be treated no less favorably than other governments within the United States; and

WHEREAS, amending FUTA to treat Indian tribes equally with other governments would be an important component of economic development and job creation for Indian tribes; and

WHEREAS, NCAI has advocated for many years for an amendment to the FUTA to fix this unfair treatment of Indian tribes, and now the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) is working to resolve this issue and has resources available to advocate effectively for a solution, and NCAI desires to support those efforts; and

WHEREAS, NCAI and NIGA believe that the most effective method of action to achieve a resolution of the FUTA’s inequitable treatment of Indian tribes is through the joint efforts of both organizations so that those members of the United States Congress working on this issue on behalf of Indian tribes know that all of Indian Country supports their efforts.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI supports NIGA’s continued advocacy seeking to amend FUTA to treat Indian tribes on an equal basis with other governments within the United States and will assist NIGA’s staff to the extent that NCAI has resources available, and further desires that NIGA’s efforts in this regard be seen as the joint efforts of NCAI and NIGA; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI and NIGA will convey to those members of Congress working to improve the FUTA that they are working jointly to resolve this issue for the benefit of all Indian Country, and that those members are assured that their efforts are supported by all of Indian Country.

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000 with a quorum present.

_____________________________

Susan Masten, President

Juana Majel, Recording Secretary

Adopted by the General Assembly during the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000.