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Date: Dec 3, 2012
Where: NCAI Embassy of Tribal Nations
9am to 1pm
To: Tribal Leaders and Tribal Advocates
National Indian and Issue Organizations
Regional Intergovernmental Tribal Organizations
Re: Invitation for FY2014 Budget Recommendations
NCAI would like to invite you or the appropriate staff member to participate in a strategy meeting to discuss collective FY2014 budget recommendations for Indian Country on December 3, 2012 from 9 am - 1 pm at the NCAI Embassy of Tribal Nations, 1516 P St. NW, Washington DC, 20005. A conference call number will be available if you cannot attend in person. This meeting is scheduled one day before the Tribal Interior Budget Council meeting, which will be held December 4-5, 2012 in Washington, DC.
Tribes and advocates must prepare for FY 2014 in this time of political disagreements about the role of the federal government and tax policy. In the face of one of the most partisan and contentious budget cycles in memory, NCAI is working to unify tribal leaders, organizations and advocates to ensure the promises made to Indian Country are honored throughout the federal budget. With the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which capped discretionary spending through FY 2021 and with the 8.2 percent reduction slated with the sequester, the need for a united message from Indian Country is even more urgent.
Advocacy: NCAI will once again develop a national Tribal Budget Request to distribute in conjunction with NCAI's annual State of Indian Nations address scheduled for the beginning of February 2013. This will show the Administration and Congress that Indian Country is unified around these specific requests and strengthen all of our collective efforts.
Opportunity for Involvement: NCAI invites all national and tribal issue organizations as well as tribal leaders and advocates to partner with NCAI in contributing to the State of Indian Nations and preparing this Indian Country Budget Request.
In preparation for this meeting:
1) NCAI asks for your respective input on what statement or key issues should be considered to be included in the State of Indian Nations. Please send one key program concern each and strategy to address it by Wednesday, November 28.
2) NCAI asks for the following input on the FY 2014 Tribal Budget Request, specifically:
a. The top funding priority for your tribal issue area
b. Historical budget trend analysis for your respective Indian program areas
c. Well documented data and background to justify all increases sought
d. What authorizing legislation recommends for funding levels
e. Anecdotes of successes of the federal investment in tribal programs
f. Images or photographs
RSVP to Gerald Kaquatosh at gkaquatosh@ncai.org by Monday, November 26 if your organization will be represented and can provide a short (about 5-10 minute) overview of key messages and requests. Feel free to let me or Amber Ebarb (aebarb@ncai.org) know if you have any questions.
The document developed last year is available here: http://www.ncai.org/resources/ncai-publications/indian-country-budget-request/fy2013/FY2013_Budget.pdf