Pelosi Remarks at National Congress of American Indians Legislative Summit
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi addressed the National Congress of American Indians at its annual Legislative Summit. In her remarks, Pelosi states that the Washington Football team,"shouldno longer be recognized as a trademark by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office." The federal agency has repeatedly rejectedthe use of the "R-word" on the grounds that use of the word was disparaging. Below are the Leader's remarks:
"…Not only for the Indian Country, but for America. Everything you do for Indian Country is for our country, as we all feel – and also to take stock of what needs to be done as we go forward. It's about bringing not only our thanks and respect and appreciation, but also about bringing commitment.
"I want to thank Jacqueline, thank you very much Jacqueline Johnson Pata. Brian Cladoosby – last night my grandson came, he's looking at colleges. We stayed up very late and got up very early.
[Laughter]
"So Jacqueline, Brian, and Dennis: thank you all very much for your leadership and your invitation. As I said, it's always a privilege. This is becoming like a family affair for us, because we sort of take turns addressing the plenary session. But all of us get together in the course of your visit here and in between visits – your visits to Washington. We've been in each other's homes. We have a personal friendship and appreciation for who you are and what we mean to each other. Thank you for being a part of America that prays and that respects future generations and makes decisions in light of them, that are great stewards of the land and have been a model to our country historically in that regard.
"The 70 year anniversary: think back 70 years, of how exciting it must have been and courageous and groundbreaking for those who formed – who were the leaders in the National Congress of American Indians. They broke ground, but they did not leave it broken. They built on it and you continue to do that. It's very important that you come to Washington, D.C., to make your voices collectively heard here, because we look to you for establishing the priorities. There are so many. So how do we prioritize – how do we put them in line, timing-wise? Your voices, your outside mobilization in the country, and that message that you bring here is not for each of you individually only – as important as that is – but for whom you represent.
"So for 70 years, NCAI has worked tirelessly to maintain and advance the rights of sovereignty of tribal nations, fighting to hold the United States accountable to its responsibilities to your government. That work has rarely been easy. And through your dedication, your organization, and your energy you have built a brighter future for native culture, native families, and native nations.
"Let us take stock of some of your successes and review our challenges, briefly. I know you've been doing this the entire couple of days. Our nation must never forget – as we take stock – our nation must never forget that trust. The responsibility is not just a legal arrangement, it is a moral obligation.
[Applause]
"We cannot abdicate our responsibility to do right by our Native American brothers and sisters. The needs and challenges of the Tribal Nations are America's needs. They are all our needs. They are our challenges too. Even in the 21st century, it can be a fight on some of these challenges – no matter how much education has been done. But it is a fight worth having and a fight we must win.
"Last week marked the one year anniversary – taking stock of our successes – the one year anniversary of the reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act.
[Applause]
"And it ended a month-long battle to include Native American women in the protections of that bill. Can you imagine that they wanted to bring a bill to the floor – or that they did bring a bill to the floor – that did not include Native American women, immigrant or LGBT women? But I thank you, for not only helping in the fight to include Native American women, but your involvement helped pass the Violence Against Women – all women – Act.
"So understand how important your involvement was in that. We were never going to pass a bill that excluded Native American women. Ever. They didn't want bring up any bill, but the drumbeat across America, that you helped create, made this issue too hot for them to handle. So, all women benefited because of your determination. My colleague Gwen Moore, she's just been a heroine to us in this regard. She is your champion, she is our champion – a champion for all women.
"So, thank you. As you know, first the Senate – the Democratic controlled Senate passed the bill, fully inclusive in a bipartisan way. But then, the House would not bring up the bill for hundreds of days. Then finally, then finally. So thank you for that success. You know what it does. It gives tribes and law enforcement the tools to address crimes at the local level. You know what a difference it makes. That's why we were so glad when President Obama signed the bill there with Vice President Biden, that a Native American woman was there, in full regalia, to speak about how important this was to our country.
"In 1907, Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree – imagine her courage. Earning a medical degree over 100 years ago for a woman – much less a Native American woman – for all the challenges that go together. She wrote to the federal government appealing for help to address a severe lack of health care resources for her Omaha tribe. ‘If you knew the conditions and circumstances' she wrote, ‘you would do all you could do to remedy them.' For decades, her clarion call, and impassioned pleas of so many like her, fell off on deaf ears.
"When we were writing the Affordable Care Act, we vowed to do better. We vowed to improve the quality, availability, and affordability of health care for all Americans. We vowed that we would not leave Native people and families behind. Because of your – look: for years, we have been trying pass the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. There always was an obstacle – not really a good reason – but an excuse relating to women's reproductive health. So I kept promising, every time I came, I would promise: we're going to get this passed. We're going to get around this obstacle. And how we got around it was to put it on an engine that was leaving the station, and that was the Affordable Care Act.
"And so, with your help, we not only passed the American Indian Health Care Improvement Act; your strength in pushing that helped push the Affordable Care Act over the finish line. So with everything that we've done – ending violence against women or appealing for health care for Native Americans – in every case, you have made prospects for the future better for everyone in our country. Thank you for that.
(Applause]
"The Affordable Care Act was an essential, monumental step forward. But we still must do more to expand our – there's that word again – commitment, to the personal and economic health of tribal communities. Ensuring safe and efficient travel throughout Indian country is crucial to ensuring the economic development, jobs, education and well-being of all those on tribal lands. As we reauthorize the MAP-21 highway and transit bill, we will fight to protect and preserve the Tribal Transportation Program.
"Furthermore, we must rectify the wrongs and misguided and destructive Carcieri Supreme Court decision, and remind you that, when we had the majority in the House, we passed the Carcieri fix.
[Applause]
"We passed it.
[Applause]
"It did not prevail in the Senate. But we will not rest until we get this done. Hopefully we can go forward this time in a bipartisan way in the House and the Senate to get it done. And through the badges, we have to get it done. How do you explain why it isn't getting done? When we got in, as soon as we got the majority, we knew that that was a priority for us. Well, it continues to be, and it's frankly long overdue. Tribal nations should have the right and the opportunity to grow their land base for economic development, and we cannot perpetuate two classes of tribes as though time had stopped in 1934.
"On tax issues and our legislation, our appropriation, and our tax policy, we must respect the federal government's unique relationship with tribal nations. Well, I can say the reverse – that we must respect tribal nations' unique relationship with the federal government. We must allow tribes to raise capital with the same flexibility afforded to state and local and government, and we cannot leave them out as we work for solutions to the taxations of internet sales and other tax reforms. In terms of taxes, we must make sure the IRS does it right, or we must pass a Tribal General Welfare Exclusion bill.
[Applause]
"And we must pass Native American Housing reauthorization legislation. We must we must get that done.
[Applause]
"What we're fighting for, it has application to America across the board. All of it is important to all of us. But the Voting Rights Act – just as with the Violence Against Women Act – when we're talking about discrimination dividing people up, I thank you for your work on the Voting Rights Act. Native Americans should not be forced to endure inequality before our laws and before our elections. Every American deserves the right to vote. We know that, and every American deserves the right to have his or her vote counted as cast. We must work to restore and strengthen the protections of the Voting Rights Act to ensure that voices of Native Americans are heard in our government and in our politics.
"You know that you have many champions in the Congress of the United States, that it is an honor for me to work with both sides of the aisle. But I'm particularly proud of the work I see up front and close with some of our Members, who I'm sure you've been hearing from. Xavier Becerra, who is the Chair of our Caucus, focuses on the tax issues and the IRS. Ron Barber, a new Member of Congress, is very interested in helping to stop the Arizona Land Exchange Act. This bill would allow Resolution Copper to take land so cherished and so sacred to Native Americans without their permission, or even input. Ben Ray Lujan, another champion, has an amendment to that to protect the sacred and cultural areas, and it is gaining support and could pass. Others in our ranks: Betty McCollum, Raul Ruiz, Gwen Moore. Others have been working on the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which expires September 30th, 2014. Very specifically, many of my colleagues – I know you'll be hearing from our senior Democrat on Interior, Peter DeFazio. And you may already have heard from Nick Rahall, who had that position before. Some of our freshmen – Raul Ruiz – many of our freshmen have come in with an orientation – they have worked on these issue in their lives, whether it's as a physician, whether it's as an elected official. And they bring that determination to Congress.
"So we believe that we have the talent to get this done. Betty McCollum: she has been a champion in so many ways. Congresswoman McCollum and Congresswoman Hanabusa have been champions for issues that relate to native Hawaiians, and that applies to our work here. They've worked, as you've worked, to remind Congress and the nation of our moral responsibility to native nations and to ensure that, in America, all have a shot for a brighter future.
"The reason I'm reading some of these notes is that if I don't I'll go longer.
[Laughter]
"But there's one more issue that I want to bring up with you. This week you gathered in the District of Columbia to call on Congress to do its part to realize the future that you're here to discuss. You've traveled far and wide to come to Washington to stand up for your rights, and ask America to keep its obligations and its promises. Somebody asked me yesterday to sign his Constitution. And I said: ‘Well, I will, but every time I sign a Constitution I want to turn to the page on sovereignty, so that you remember that very clearly.'
[Applause]
"Here in the nation's capital, we cannot overlook the question of a football team and the name that it has. I have heard from you very clearly that the ‘R-word' is considered by those in Indian Country to be an offense. And if it offends, it should no longer be recognized as a trademark by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The team should change its name.
[Applause]
"We all respect freedom of speech, but the Trademark Office has rejected names which are considered offensive, and they should do it now. They can keep their name on the team, but when it comes to all the stuff – that's serious money. So I think that is one path that we can go. I know that you all have been working on that. I want to associate myself and those of my colleagues who share that view that we need to use every tool at our disposal – public opinion, the strong voice of Indian Country in all of this, and, by the way, not to underutilize the resource that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is. It's time to choose another name. In fact, it's long overdue."
[Applause]
"Before we talk about all the issues, and there's some challenges I didn't raise – I could go on forever. We have to prioritize what we think we can get done. We can build a future – one of dignity and it's one of pride, which is who you are; of justice, of prosperity of renewed health and opportunity. Together we can open up new opportunities for all of America's children, and we must do so for our Native American children. Together we can lift each other up, as you may have done. I thank you for your leadership, again.
"So if we're talking about pride and dignity and justice and the rest, and how we pass on that pride and dignity to your children, to your grandchildren – how do you explain an offensive word as a name for a football team? There's no explanation. There may be an excuse, but there's no good reason. And so, I think we can get this done.
"In any event, thank you for your leadership, for your persistence, for your dedication on behalf of tribal nations, native people, and all Americans. Because of your visits, not only in plenary, but individual visits that many of us have been having with you in the course of these days – and as I said, here or at home, and literally in our homes, and yours, and in mine. This is a priority for us, a source of pride, an obligation that our own dignity as a nation is affected by, to the extent that we recognize the dignity of our father nations and our Native American people.
"Thank you for giving me the honor to share some thoughts with you this morning. Good luck in your deliberations. I can't wait to see what comes out of it so I know where we're going next.
"Thank you."
[Applause]