Joe Sestak unveils new indigenous rights & sovereignty policies

Fulfilling our trust responsibility & treaty obligations - progress through education - justice for Native Americans - tackling the epidemic of violence against indigenous women and girls, and missing women and girls

Our nation is constantly striving for a more perfect union. We cannot get there until we begin correcting past and continuing injustices that are a stain on our collective conscience.

We have a sacred debt and duty to our Native American fellow citizens. Our America must be an America that keeps its promise to its indigenous peoples.

Like many Americans descended from immigrants, I grew up feeling deep respect and reverence for Native American culture and history. Over time I grew to understand how indigenous people of North America are not only a part of America’s past but an important part of our present too, with rich, vibrant, resilient communities across the 50 states and US territories. As I learned more about the modern history of Native Americans, I came to understand just how resilient they have been forced to be, how much struggle they have endured over centuries of mistreatment and marginalization, up to the present day.

As President, I will work with indigenous communities to secure their full rights and sovereignty, and attempt to make amends for the harm done to native peoples throughout our history. I have outlined a detailed set of policy proposals aimed at doing just that.

My priorities are below (read the full paper here):

• Honor and fulfill treaty obligations — and moral obligations — to Native American peoples.
• Acknowledge past wrongs committed against Native Americans, and wrongs still being committed.
• Listen to Native Americans and include their voices in policy decisions.
• Recognize Native American sovereignty, including by giving federal recognition to all tribes currently recognized by states, and re-considering all others who seek it.
• Fully fund the Indian Health Service — which, like many of the points here, is and should be considered a treaty obligation) to deal with staff shortages and poor quality care.
• Dramatically improve infrastructure throughout “Indian Country”, including roads, dams, bridges, potable water, electricity, broadband, etc.
• Respect and honor Native American sacred sites and religious practice.
• Protect Native American lands and resources from outside interests.
• Restore effective leaders to the Department of the Interior who will engage with Native Americans and treat them with the dignity they deserve.
• Re-institute the annual Tribal Nations Conference at the White House.
• Pass the RESPECT Act to repeal antiquated laws still on the books that are hostile and discriminatory toward Native American people.
• Provide more federal support for education in Native American communities, including funds to repair crumbling schools, and full funding for the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).
• Pass universal daycare and pre-K for all Americans.
• Increase funding for language revitalization and cultural preservation programs.
• Improve justice systems on Native American reservations, including by providing more funding for tribal police and restorative justice programs, and by working with tribes, states, and Congress to fix jurisdictional problems that prevent non-Native Americans who commit crimes on reservations from being brought to justice (among other justice issues).
• Focus federal attention on the epidemic of violence against indigenous women and girls, and missing women and girls, starting with passing Savanna's Act to improve coordination and information sharing among federal, state, local, and tribal officials.
• Work with tribes and states to address the intersecting socio-economic problems that harm far too many Native American people, including poverty, discrimination, lack of opportunity, addiction and substance abuse, other physical and mental health conditions, poor nutrition, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.

For more, read the full paper here. 

To read all of my policy papers, please click here to check out my "Plan for America."

For more information, visit my site (here) to read more about who I am and where my campaign is going next, or contact my press team on press@joesestak.com.

Respectfully,
Joe Sestak

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Rep. McAdams to talk healthcare affordability in Sutherland Institute’s 2019 Congressional Series
 

SALT LAKE CITY—Today Sutherland Institute announced Rep. Ben McAdams will speak on Reining in the Cost of Healthcare in Sutherland’s 2019 Congressional Series, presented by Zions Bank. The event will be held on Friday, Sept. 6.
 
“Prescription drugs play a critical role in helping prevent, manage and cure various conditions and diseases,” McAdams said. “But a recent poll shows that nearly one in four Americans taking prescription drugs say it is hard to afford their medicine. That is wrong and it’s time to offer them some relief.”
 
“Healthcare debate in this nation has languished on the rocky shoals of the partisan divide for years now,” said Rick B. Larsen, Sutherland Institute president and CEO. “However, the practical considerations around prescription drug pricing have become an unnecessarily partisan conversation. Initial steps toward a solution include restoring free market economic principles and exposing the unnecessary costs that litter the path from manufacturer to consumer. For some, it is a matter of life – at least quality of life – and death. We look forward to this discussion and to hearing from Congressman McAdams.”
 
This is a private event, but it is open to the public with advance ticket registration and will be streamed live on Sutherland’s Facebook page. It is also open to media who RSVP in advance by emailing kelsey@sifreedom.org. Space is limited.
 
Following McAdams’ remarks, a panel will discuss solutions to the rising costs of prescription drugs. Panelists include: Courtney Bullard from Utah Health Policy Project; William S. Smith, Pioneer Institute’s visiting fellow in the life sciences; and Laura Summers, senior healthcare analyst at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
 

REINING IN THE COST OF HEALTHCARE
 
*Questions from the media will be permitted following a Q&A with audience members*
 
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. MDT

WHERE: Sutherland Institute
15 W. South Temple
Suite 200
Salt Lake City

 
Sutherland Institute’s Congressional Series is designed to facilitate civil dialogue and convene stakeholders, elected officials and community leaders to discuss important issues. These are private events. As such, Sutherland reserves the right to deny access to or remove any individual who interrupts a speaker or panelist, is disruptive or combative in tone, and/or refuses to allow open and civil dialogue. By attending any event, you agree to these terms and conditions.

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Media Advisory

Secretary Perdue in Arkansas TOMORROW

(Washington, D.C., September 3, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in Arkansas TOMORROW, Wednesday, September 4th. 

Secretary Perdue to tour Vantage MidSouth Precision Agriculture

WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour Vantage MidSouth Precision Agriculture. Following the tour, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 4th beginning at 10:15am CT.

WHERE: Vantage MidSouth Precision Agriculture, 822 East Park, Carlisle, AR 72024

Secretary Perdue and Governor Asa Hutchinson to participate in Stakeholder Townhall and sign Shared Stewardship Agreement

WHAT: Secretary Perdue and Governor Hutchinson will participate in a townhall discussion with agriculture stakeholders and sign a Shared Stewardship Agreement. Following the visit, Secretary Perdue and Governor Hutchinson will hold a media availability.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 4th beginning at 2:00pm CT.

WHERE: Arkansas Agriculture Department, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205

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NEVER LOVED    

Announces Fall Tour with

Assuming We Survive & We Were Sharks

Debut EP Available for Purchase Here

"The Florida [three piece] knows how to turn a sneering vocal hook and a parade of 

power chords into a thumping chorus." - Billboard

"...the trio dive into the hills and valleys of a modern relationship

through jamming guitar and gritty vocals." - Alternative Press

"With their debut EP...the band is making their mark as passionate, skilled songwriters that 

work together as a cohesive unit that is truly impressive." - Substream Magazine

 

September 3, 2019 - Florida - Never Loved will be electrifying audiences across the US this fall, as they join Assuming We Survive and We Were Sharks on the bands' upcoming co-headline tour. The Florida-based alternative rock band will be hitting the stage starting on October 24th in Chicago, with subsequent shows in Chicago, Toronto, New York, Atlanta, and more. For a full list of shows or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.neverlovedmusic.com.

Hailing from the sunny shores of South Florida comes the alt-rock trio, Never Loved. With electrifying choruses & loud, gritty guitars, this three piece powerhouse is guaranteed to spark your inner adolescence.

Last year Never Loved signed with Equal Vision Records. The announcement came alongside the premiere of the band's first ever single, "Dead Inside," via Billboard. Since then, the band was also named one of Billboard's "Artists to Watch: 17 Alternative & Indie Breakouts For 2019," in addition to being featured on Alternative Press, Hot Topic, Substream Magazine, and more.

Never Loved is charging up your 2019 with new music, produced by multi-platinum producer, Matt Squire. The band's debut EP Never Loved is out now and can be purchased at neverloved.lnk.to/ep. Most recently, the band released "Where Do I Go From Here?"

For More Information, please visit:

Website: www.neverlovedmusic.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/neverlovedmusic

Twitter: www.twitter.com/neverlovedmusic

Instagram: www.instagram.com/neverlovedmusic

Upcoming Tour Dates w/Assuming We Survive & We Were Sharks

10/24 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen

10/25 - Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary

10/26 - Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee's

10/27 - Ottawa, ON @ The 27 Club

10/29 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East (Upstairs)

10/30 - New York, NY @ Arlene's Grocery

10/31 - Scranton, PA @ Stage West

11/1 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

11/2 - Atlanta, GA @ Smith's Olde Bar

11/3 - Orlando, FL @ Soundbar

11/16 - Brandon, FL @ Hopefest **

** - Never Loved Only

IRC responds to US Military Leaders letter to the President on US refugee resettlement program

NEW YORK, 3 September, 2019 - The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds today to an unprecedented open letter to President Trump from retired Flag and General Officers of the U.S. military, including former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, addressing the need for a ‘robust’ US refugee admissions program in the coming year.

David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said:

“This unprecedented letter from an extraordinary collection of America’s military leaders recognizes the critical impact of US refugee resettlement policy, not just in saving lives but also in promoting global stability and safeguarding the strategic interests of the United States. It demonstrates the high stakes as the Administration weighs its decision on the number of refugees to be allowed into the US in Fiscal Year 2020. 

 

“The argument of the military leaders is hard headed.  It is not just America’s values that are served by the admission of refugees. It is also America’s national security. Refugee admissions are an investment in the nation’s security, a support for its role in the world, and a lead for other countries.

 

“The letter is a clear call for the Administration to reverse its current course.  Since 2016, the Trump administration has set progressively lower refugee admissions goals.  It has reduced its refugee admissions by almost 75% to a historic low ceiling of 30,000, compared to a forty-year average set across both republican and democrat administrations of 95,000.  This has undermined American interests, undercut American leadership and provided an excuse for other countries to cut their help for refugees - at precisely the time when there is a global refugee crisis.  

 

“The human effects of this course are nowhere more clear than where American troops are on the battlefield. In 2018 the US admitted just 51 Iraqis who helped US missions overseas, with 100,000 Iraqis left in limbo in the pipeline.

 

“With a record 26 million refugees fleeing violence and persecution worldwide, this is a time when America can do something that is right and smart.  The most powerful nation in the world has a unique responsibility to protect the most vulnerable people in the world. The fact that it can serve its own interests while doing so makes this a win-win.  And since refugees - who have been vetted through the toughest security assessment in the world -  have been shown to be net economic contributors to the US, the case for this program is irrefutable."

###

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please reach out to communications@rescue.org

ABOUT THE IRC

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 offices across the U.S. helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. Learn more at www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on Twitter & Facebook.