May 30, 2017
Dear UNAHA membership;
I hope that you are having a nice spring and enjoying the warmer weather. Here in western Montana we are having a nice spring with plenty of sunshine.
I continue to watch the activities taking place in Washington DC as our senators and congressman finally set our funding levels for NAHASDA for FY 2017. As I am sure you are aware the initial estimates sent out from HUD was at an estimated funding level of $700 million for the national appropriation for NAHASDA. The continuing resolution that was approved for the FY 2017 NAHASDA funding level was $650 million, so you will need to be aware that your final figures with be less than the estimates. With the funding level for NAHASDA being flat lined again, that is over 17 years that we have had to deal with trying to operate and maintain our housing programs with the same funding levels. As many of you are well aware nothing costs the same today that it did 17 years ago. We need to continue to fight and help our elected officials know the effect of flat lined funding.
Then, when you think things cannot get any worse for our NAHASDA funding levels we get a look at the President’s Budget Request for FY 2018. It is hard to fathom how this administration would propose to decrease funding for NAHASDA and zero out funding for ICDBG but that is what is being proposed. It is time for you to be calling your senators and congressman and letting them know that a decrease of $50 million in the President’s Budget Request for FY 2018 for NAHASDA and zero funding for ICDBG is unacceptable. We must make our voices heard and not allow this request to become reality.
Moving to a more positive note, the 32nd Annual All-West Native American 100 Basketball Classic was a huge success. It was good to hear that most of the awards given out from this year’s 102 team tournament went to teams from the UNAHA region. The committee that works all year long to put the tournament together needs to be commended for another successful tournament, thank you Dave, Dom, Mike and Pat.
The UNAHA summer meeting has been set, please make your travel arrangements soon and plan to come and enjoy the August weather and beauty of the Flathead Indian Reservation. Our summer meeting will be August 21, 22 and one half day on 23, 2017 in Polson, MT at the KwaTaqNuk Resort on Flathead Lake. I hope to see many of you here as you come to visit the home of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me, your board members or our staff.
Sincerely,
Jason Adams
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