Freedmen Issue Dogs Cherokee Nation

According to Indianz.com the members of the Congressional Black Caucus have told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that they will block reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act until the citizenship status of the Freedmen is addressed. An amendment to the legislation prohibits giving federal funds to the Cherokee Nation unless it restores the Freedmen to citizenship. In addition, last week at the Federal Bar Association’s Indian Law Conference, Allison Binney, the staff director for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee said the House is considering adding a similar provision to its version of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.