Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma urges it citizens and others who are interested in protecting and promoting the sovereignty of Native American Nations to write their congressional delegation and voice support for Senate bill 1726 and H.R. 4556.

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz) introduced S. 1726, that would lower the cost of creating new jobs in Indian Country. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Dave Camp (R-Mich) and others have introduced a virtually identical bill, H.R. 4556, incorporating certain technical corrections suggested by the Treasury and Labor Departments. The purpose of both bills is to provide the same Federal Unemployment Tax Act ("FUTA") rules for Indian Tribal Governments that currently apply to state and local government employers.

Under current law, Indian Tribal Governments are not accorded appropriate recognition as governments and some IRS agents have tried to treat tribes like private corporations. In practice, this would result in Indian Tribal Governments subsidizing the costs of the unemployment insurance system for private employers who are laying off workers. S. 1726 and H.R. 4556 would include Tribal Governments in the FUTA system and would work to ensure that Tribal Governments’ contributions were appropriate to their governmental status. Workers would still be covered and state unemployment insurance funds would still be protected.

Please contact your Senators and Representatives on this important issue. See the following paths for the email addresses of U.S. Senators, Contacting The U.S. Senate and email addresses for contacting members of The U.S. House of Representatives.