During the 103rd Congress, Bill Richardson chaired the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs

[bigtree]

He has been a longtime proponent of Native American sovereignty. As Chair, he wrote dozens of bills and passed nearly 40 bills (half enacted into law) improving all aspects of Indian life including health care reform, judicial changes, environmental protection rights and trust fund management improvements.
http://www.hri.org/cgi-bin/brief?/news/usa/usia/1996/96-12-13_3.usia.html

As governor, Richardson has worked closely with New Mexico Indian communities, cooperating with tribal leaders to increase economic prosperity, sustain cultures and protect the sovereign rights of New Mexico's tribal communities, who are a crucial part of the state's history and traditions.

In April of 2004, Governor Richardson formerly established the Indian Affairs Department in New Mexico by legislative statute, elevating it from being a state agency to a State Department and Secretary Benny Shendo Jr. became the first Indian Affairs secretary in New Mexico history. Richardson has appointed many Native Americans to significant positions in his administration with more than 60 appointed to state boards and commissions.
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:CMHyRkt2aDIJ:www.ncai.org/index.php%3Fid%3D19%26print%3D1%26type%3D123%26tx_ttnews%255BbackPid%255D%3D9%26tx_ttnews%255Btt_news%255D%3D234%26cHash%3Ded7fd14ea1+Rep.+bill+richardson+Indian+affairs&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&client=firefox-a


In February Gov. Richardson called for restoration of Indian Health Care funding:

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) on Tuesday in a letter to the state's congressional delegation urged lawmakers to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the AP/Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Congress has reauthorized the act four times since 1976, when it was first enacted, but has not advanced it in the past six years, according to the AP/New Mexican. In addition, Richardson said the cuts to American Indian health care proposed by President Bush would have a "devastating effect" on New Mexico's American Indian population (AP/Santa Fe New Mexican, 2/21). Bush's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget calls for eliminating the $33 million Urban Indian Health Program, a system of 34 health clinics around the country. The program provides low-cost health services to American Indians living in urban areas. Last year, both the House and Senate rejected a similar proposal. The budget also proposes a $25 million funding reduction for Indian Health Facilities, which supports construction and improvements to American Indian health services (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 2/8). Richardson said, "In several meetings held over the last year and a half with New Mexico's 22 federally recognized Indian pueblos, tribes and nations, one issue came across loud and clear: We must improve Native American health care." Richardson noted in the letter that state health and human service agencies are working to improve outreach efforts and complement federal programs but that those efforts do not absolve the federal government from its responsibilities to American Indians.
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/57353.html


Recently Bill Richardson said he would elevate Indian affairs to a cabinet-level position if he became president:

Richardson: Since the beginning, since I was a congressman, Secretary of Energy, United Nations ambassador, I felt that our Native American people have not gotten the priority attention they deserve, so I've made them partners.

I've treated them not just with respect, but I've also used deeds. When I was in Congress, we passed a lot of legislation returning lands to the Pueblos, respecting religious beliefs, Indian religious rights, national parks, joint efforts between the Pueblos and the federal government. When I was Secretary of Energy, we returned millions of acres to the Utes in Utah for energy development, and then at the United Nations I very proudly presided over a conference on Native peoples from around the world. <...>

As governor, I've had two cabinet members Native Americans; I've elevated the Indian affairs to cabinet level - it never used to be cabinet-level. I've appointed Native Americans to not just jobs in the administration, but commissions that deal with water and infrastructure.

We just negotiated a gaming pact, an Indian gaming agreement, with all the pueblos for 45 years from now and it was built on trust; the Native American people get assurance and exclusivity in their gaming for another 40 years the state gets more revenue from the casinos and that's a fair arrangement based on respect.

I've never felt that it is a matter of just trying to get votes or feeling good, but that the Native American people are real partners; and if you want to resolve problems in New Mexico involving land, water or energy, you got to have the Native people with you.

If I'm elected president, I would propose to make the cabinet secretary of Indian Affairs the Secretary of Indian Affairs; I would make it cabinet level. I would try, because I believe within the Department of the Interior it does not get the attention it deserves. I would have a cabinet department for Native American affairs.

In terms of being governor, we have said that we recognize all tribes as equals, self-determination and government-to-government. And a Pueblo governor is equal to the governor of New Mexico. They're citizens of New Mexico. I just feel very strongly about it and I'm going to continue doing that if I'm elected president.
http://indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414557

[Benhurst]

1. Good for him. Recommended #1

[jobycom]

2. Nice. I hope he can bring that discussion to the national stage

[demnan]

3. Great!

I like to see someone stand up for Native American rights! It also shows that he represents the people in his state well.

[rhino47]

4. K&R

It is so good to see someone bring up the issues of Native Americans.