Resolution #SAC-12-030
TITLE: Support for Section 703 of NAHASDA for the Training and Technical Assistance Program
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 health, safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and
WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress recognized the need for housing assistance and economic development in Indian Country when it passed the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) as amended; and
WHEREAS, NAHASDA clearly states in Section 703 that funding be provided to a national organization representing Native American housing interests to provide training and technical assistance; and
WHEREAS, tribes and tribal housing programs fully supported and felt it was essential to include language in Section 703 of NAHASDA that created a responsive and effective training and technical assistance program that met their specific and unique needs; and
WHEREAS, this training and technical assistance is essential to tribes who provide low-income housing for its members through the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG); and
WHEREAS, this training and technical assistance is essential for all of Indian Country to allow tribes to stay in compliance with regulations of NAHASDA and to train their staff regarding housing regulations, policies, and procedures; and
WHEREAS, this training and technical assistance has historically been provided by the National American Indian Housing council through Section 703 of NAHASDA; and
WHEREAS, during Fiscal Year 2012 budget and appropriations process, the Congress at the request of the Administration included language that altered and changed the manner in which the training and technical assistance funding was to be appropriated – a change that does not support Section 703 of NAHASDA; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) published a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) on August 28, 2012 that ushers in major changes on the delivery of training and technical assistance; and
WHEREAS, the NOFA completely alters that manner in which all training and technical assistance will be provided to tribes and tribal housing programs and this new program does not meet the standards of Section 703 of NAHASDA; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order 13175 of Sept 23, 2004, requires consultation with Indian Tribal Governments and establishes policy in consulting and collaborating with Indian tribes through governments-to-government relationships in order to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have tribal implications, to strengthen the United States government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes; and
WHEREAS, this change to NAHASDA necessitates a government-to-government consultation that will allow tribes the opportunity to provide input before changes to federal policies are implement for an essential program designed to provide training and technical assistance in accordance with Section 703 of NAHASDA.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI supports the purpose of Section 703 of the NAHASDA Statute, that has been historically provided by the National American Indian Housing Council, for the purpose of providing an essential national training and technical assistance program that meets the specific and unique capacity building needs of tribes and tribal housing programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI urges Congress and the Administration to adhere to Section 703, as this language was vetted by Indian Country and agreed to by consensus among Tribal Leaders and Indian Housing Professionals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NCAI urges the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to seek tribal consultation before formulating or implementing a policy that would change the manner in which training and technical assistance is provided to tribes and tribal housing programs; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.
CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2012 Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Sacramento Convention Center from October 21-26, 2012 in Sacramento, California, with a quorum present.
President
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary