[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1551 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1551

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
     States should promote respect for and full application of the 
     provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of 
         Indigenous Peoples consistent with United States law.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 22, 2010

 Mr. Faleomavaega (for himself, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Hastings of Florida, 
   Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Honda, Mr. 
 George Miller of California, and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
     States should promote respect for and full application of the 
     provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of 
         Indigenous Peoples consistent with United States law.

Whereas, on September 13, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 
        Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a landmark declaration 
        outlining the rights of the world's 370,000,000 indigenous peoples in 70 
        countries;
Whereas the Declaration is a non-binding text, which sets out the individual and 
        collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to 
        culture, identity, language, employment, health, and education, and 
        encourages indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own 
        institutions, cultures, and traditions, and pursue their development in 
        keeping with their own needs and aspirations;
Whereas the Declaration prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and 
        promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that 
        concern them, and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own 
        visions of economic and social development;
Whereas United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the Declaration's 
        adoption as ``a historic moment when UN Member States and indigenous 
        peoples have reconciled with their painful histories and are resolved to 
        move forward together on the path of human rights, justice and 
        development for all'';
Whereas the Declaration was approved after 143 United Nations Member States 
        voted in favor, 11 abstained and four, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, 
        and the United States, voted against the text;
Whereas since the Declaration's adoption, Australia and New Zealand have 
        reversed their positions and now endorse the Declaration;
Whereas in March 2010, the Government of Canada announced it would take steps to 
        endorse the Declaration;
Whereas indigenous peoples continue to face disproportionate and dire poverty, 
        unemployment, environmental degradation, inadequate health care, violent 
        crime, and discrimination around the world;
Whereas in November 2009, President Barack Obama invited representatives from 
        each of the 564 indigenous tribes in the United States to attend a White 
        House Tribal Nations Conference;
Whereas nearly 500 tribal leaders participated in the most widely attended White 
        House tribal meeting in United States history;
Whereas President Obama signed a memorandum on November 5, 2009, directing every 
        Federal agency to develop plans to implement fully the Executive Order 
        on ``Consultation and Coordination with Tribal Governments'', which 
        mandates that all agencies have an accountable process for meaningful 
        and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory 
        policies that have tribal implications;
Whereas the United States supports the Initiative for Conservation in the Andean 
        Amazon, a regional program designed to strengthen indigenous efforts to 
        protect and conserve the Amazon rainforest;
Whereas the United States participates fully and actively in the Arctic Council, 
        a high-level intergovernmental forum comprised of the eight Arctic 
        countries where Arctic indigenous peoples, represented by Permanent 
        Participant organizations, have co-equal roles; and
Whereas in an April 20, 2010, speech at the United Nations Permanent Forum on 
        Indigenous Issues, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, United States Permanent 
        Representative to the United Nations, stated that, because ``far more 
        must be done--at home and abroad--to tackle [the challenges of 
        indigenous peoples], expand the circle of opportunity, and work with our 
        Native communities to ensure they enjoy the security and dignity that 
        all citizens deserve . . . I am pleased to announce that the United 
        States has decided to review our position regarding the U.N. Declaration 
        on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the Administration should continue to work together 
        with partners in indigenous communities domestically and around 
        the world to provide security, prosperity, equality, and 
        opportunity for all;
            (2) the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 
        provides an important framework for addressing indigenous 
        issues globally;
            (3) the Administration's decision to conduct a formal 
        review of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 
        and the United States' position on it is welcomed; and
            (4) the United States should promote respect for and full 
        application of the provisions of the Declaration on the Rights 
        of Indigenous Peoples, consistent with United States law.
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