FEMA Hosts Webinar for Tribal Nations on Climate Change and Equity for Underserved Populations

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FEMA is seeking public comments on how the agency can further advance equity in underserved communities and strengthen resilience from the impacts of climate change. On April 22, FEMA posted a Request for Information to help identify areas where the agency’s programs can be modified to better align with President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985, 13990, and 14008.

The public notice contains a list of 16 questions to assist in identifying agency programs, regulations, and/or policies that may benefit from modification, streamlining, expansion, or repeal to further advance equity in underserved communities and strengthen resilience from the impacts of climate change.  FEMA encourages public comment on these questions and seeks any other data that commenters believe are relevant to the agency’s review efforts. 

In addition to written comments, FEMA will host a webinar at 3:30 ET on Wednesday, June 16 for tribal nations to collect verbal comments. Participants may indicate interest in providing a comment in the registration link. 

Participants must register and please note verbal comments will be limited to 3 minutes.

FEMA believes it is essential to continually reevaluate its programs to reduce unnecessary barriers to participation and effectiveness, to serve all communities, to increase equity, and to promote preparedness.  Make your voice count and register for the webinars.

Feedback on the executive orders is open through July 21. Any registration information provided will only be used for this event and will not be shared with any third party. Additional information is available about the Request for Information on FEMA.gov.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:

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Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.

Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne. 

FEMA Mission

Helping people before, during, and after disasters.

Tribal Consultation on Native American Voting Rights

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On Wednesday, June 16 at 2pm ET, 1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT, 10am AK, and 9am HI the White House and administration agencies will be holding their second consultation call with the Pacifc and Northwest Regions. 

Register for the Call Here 

Future Dates of Consultation Here

Written comments will be accepted in October for the record but if you already have statements written up, you may email them to Tracy Goodluck, Policy Advisor for Native Affairs at the White House Domestic Policy Council at Tracy.L.Goodluck@who.eop.gov 
On March 7, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting. Among other things, it requires a Steering Group of several federal agencies to engage  in meaningful and robust consultation with Tribal Nations and Native leaders, to develop  recommendations for protecting voting rights for Native American communities. 

The Executive Order committed the Administration to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections and made clear that it “is our duty to ensure that registering to vote and the act of voting be made simple and easy for all those eligible to do so.” 

In seeking to cast meaningful ballots that will be counted, we know that many Native American voters face challenges that they may share with other underrepresented communities, and also challenges that are distinct. Experiences will naturally vary from voter to voter and election to election, but reports of systemic concerns have been all too common. Past reports have indicated that — among other problems — Native American voters frequently find information about the voting process difficult to come by; polling places and registration sites are often much too far from the voters, compounded by transportation barriers; housing insecurity and purging of the rolls prompt repeated re-registration; access to forms and ballots and information is often unavailable in the languages voters speak; voters have been prevented from asking those they trust for the help to which they are entitled at the polls; states may require identity documents  that voters do not have; postal service is often irregular, including to homes that do not have platted postal addresses, making it difficult or impossible to vote by mail; and legislative districts  may be drawn to minimize the voice of Native American voters, diluting the representation they are entitled to receive. 

We know the history behind these problems, and the history of the problems’ persistence. We want to hear about your recent voting experiences, including whether historical problems continued in 2020 or whether new difficulties emerged. And we would like your recommendations about ways that the federal government, state and local governments, and private organizations may work to break down these barriers to foster robust election participation now and in the future. 
 Have you or citizens of your Tribe experienced difficulties voting in recent elections? What were those difficulties? Are you confident your ballot was counted?  Why or why not? Have you or citizens of your Tribe experienced new difficulties in recent elections, interfering with your ability to cast a meaningful ballot? Have you or citizens of your Tribe taken any steps to address these problems, or to request assistance? If so, what were those steps and what was the result? What would you like to see happen to remedy these difficulties? Join us on Wednesday, June 16 at 2pm ET, 1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT, 10am AK, and 9am HI the White House and administration agencies will be holding their second consultation call with the Pacifc and Northwest Regions. 

Register for the Call Here 

2021-28 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-28Office the FloorFawn SharpSovereignty Summit 2021Yes

Yes

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-28.pdf

2021-27 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-27Office the FloorPatricia WhitefootIn Support And Acknowledgment Of The Native Pathways Program At The Evergreen State CollegeYES

NO

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-27.pdf

2021-26 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-26Off the FloorHenry CageyUrging the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee to Exercise Oversight over IRS Auditing and Tax Collecting Activity in Indian CountryYES

YES

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-26-.pdf

2021-25 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-25TransportationKirk VinishFederal and State Transportation PackagesYES
AmendedYes

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-24.pdf

2021-24 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-24Transportation Kirk VinishWashington State Culvert ReplacementYES

NO

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-24.pdf

2021-23 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-23Natural ResourcesSamuel N. PenneyCalling On The U.S. President And Congress To Seize The Once-In-A-Lifetime Congressional Opportunity To Invest In Salmon And River Restoration In The Pacific Northwest, Charting A Stronger, Better Future For The Northwest, And Bringing Long-Ignored Tribal Justice To Our Peoples And HomelandsYES
AmendedYES

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-23.pdf

2021-22 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-22Natural ResourcesTaylor AalvickSupport Southeast Tribes’ Request To Reinstate The Roadless Rule For The Tongass National Forest, And Support Of The Tribes’ Administrative Procedures Act Petition To Create A Separate Traditional Homeland Conservation Rule YES
AmendedYes

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-22.pdf

2021-21 Resolution

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Res #:Committee:Submitted By:Title:                           passed  →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2021-21
Law & JusticeDavid WhitenerSupporting Senate Confirmation Of Lauren J. King As A Federal District Court JudgeYES

NO

https://atnitribes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Res-2021-21.pdf