Supporting Tribal Opportunity Zones and Job Creation Legislation

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:         Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
19-11	Taxation	Henry Cagey	Supporting Tribal Opportunity Zones and Job Creation Legislation	X			X

 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 11 

“SUPPORTING TRIBAL OPPORTUNITY ZONES AND JOB CREATION LEGISLATION” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and constitution of the United States and several states, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise to promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) are representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and specific tribal concerns; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, and Alaska; and 

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

WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress recently enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 115-97, on December 22, 2017 in which approximately $1.5 trillion will be invested in the U.S. economy through tax cuts and tax credits for individuals and corporations; and 

WHEREAS, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act contains no provisions supporting private sector investment and job creation in Indian Country, but contains a new program called the

Opportunity Zones program to promote investment in economically distressed areas in the United States; and 

WHEREAS, Opportunity Zones must be designated by the governor of a state, which in states like Washington has included every Indian tribal territory, but has not included all tribal lands within Indian Country; and 

WHEREAS, Indian Country is in great need of incentives for investment and job creation; and 

WHEREAS, Members of Congress and the Trump Administration should support any and all efforts to improve investment and job creation in Indian Country; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI calls on the U.S. Congress to enact changes in federal law to create incentives for investment and job creation in Indian Country in support of efforts by tribal governments to establish strong tribal economies; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI supports legislation to promote investment and job creation in Indian Country through: 

1. Amendment of the Opportunity Zone program to allow for the designation of every Indian tribal territory as an eligible opportunity zone; and 

2. Establishment of federal tax credits such as the Indian Employment Tax Credit, Accelerated Depreciation for Business Property on Indian Reservations (or equivalent), the New Markets Tax Credit and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution be forwarded to regional and national forums, not limited to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), United South & Eastern Tribes (USET), California Association of Tribal Governments, Native American Finance Officers (NAFOA), the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, and the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST). 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 28-31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Leonard Forsman, President Jeanie Louie, Secretary