04.30.19

Chair Grijalva, Dr. Ruiz & Tribal Advocates to Hold Press Conference on New Report on Federal Consultation of Tribes

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, May 1st, Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Calif.), and Chairperson Aaron Payment will announce the release of a new report entitled “Tribal Consultation: Additional Federal Actions Needed for Infrastructure Projects.” The report is the first-ever comprehensive review of 21 federal agencies’ tribal consultation processes for the development and implementation of federal infrastructure projects.

After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ failure to provide adequate tribal consultation prior to their approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016, members of Congress requested a review of the federal programs and policies that protect the health and environmental security of American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The report – released earlier this month – found that many federal agencies lack the necessary policies and implementation mechanisms to consult tribes impacted by federal infrastructure projects.

Speakers will be available for interviews immediately after the press conference.

Who: Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Calif.), Chairperson Aaron Payment, Sault Ste. Tribe of Chippewa Indians, First Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians

What: Announcement of GAO report on tribal consultation release

When: Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 3:45 to 4:00 p.m.     

Where: The Triangle, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20008

Media from the press conference can be found below.

Photos: HERE

Video: HERE