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 |
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| 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
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