U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Virtual Briefing

COVID-19 in Indian Country: The Impact of Federal Broken Promises on Native Americans

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Jul 16, 2020, 11:53 ET

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT:
On Friday July 17, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a virtual briefing to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 on Native Americans. In 2018, the Commission issued Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans, which addressed the inadequacy of federal funding for Native American programs despite the United States' trust responsibility to promote tribal self-government, support the general wellbeing of Native American people, tribes and villages, and to protect their land and resources. The Commission will hear testimony from experts on how the pandemic has impacted Native American communities with respect to healthcare, housing, and infrastructure components such as access to water and broadband, and whether the federal government is meeting its obligations to Native American people in this current crisis.

WHO:

Introductory Remarks: 10:00 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. EDT

Catherine E. Lhamon, Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Panel: 10:10 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. EDT

Geoffrey Blackwell, Chief Strategy Officer, AMERIND Risk Management Corporation
Chief William Smith, Chairman, National Indian Health Board
Chief Lynn Malerba, Secretary, USET Sovereignty Protection Fund
Jonathan Nez, President, Navajo Nation
Fawn Sharp, President, National Congress of American Indians
Francys Crevier, Executive Director, National Council of Urban Indian Health

Closing Remarks: 11:40 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. EDT

Catherine E. Lhamon, Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

WHEN:

Friday, July 17, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EDT

WHERE:

Hearing will be livestreamed on the USCCR YouTube Channel here.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is the only independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights and reporting annually on federal civil rights enforcement. Our 51 state Advisory Committees offer a broad perspective on civil rights concerns at state and local levels. For information about the Commission, please visit www.usccr.gov and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact: Zakee Martin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 202-376-8359

SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights