[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              2016 NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 2016

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, each November we celebrate the 
contributions of First Americans with National Native American Heritage 
Month. The people of the 567 diverse, federally recognized tribal 
nations--including the 11 Ojibwe and Dakota nations in Minnesota--play 
a complex and vital role in our nation's history, and make our 
communities and our country stronger today.
  Despite centuries of violent discrimination and abusive policies, our 
country's Native American cultures and nations have endured. Tribal 
governments and Native communities have made monumental progress. Our 
federal trust relationship with tribal nations has grown stronger in 
the current era of self-governance among Native American tribes--a 
proud accomplishment that will continue to require the federal 
government's full and respectful engagement.
  As a co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and the 
Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, 
I have had the honor to meet with hundreds of tribal leaders to discuss 
the needs of Indian Country. Working together, we have succeeded in 
making substantial progress on education, health, and criminal justice 
issues through measures like the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, 
increased funding for the Bureau of Indian Education, and special 
tribal jurisdiction in domestic violence cases.
  Despite these concrete steps, we have much more work to do to address 
disparities, invest in Indian Country, and create more opportunities 
for all Native Americans--especially Native youth. As we honor the 
achievements and resilience of our First Americans, I pledge to 
continue working to ensure that our Native American brothers and 
sisters have every opportunity to succeed.

                          ____________________