Powers Principal Brian Gunn recently served as a panelist at the Spokane County Bar Association 8th Annual Indian Law Conference where he discussed Tribal policy outlook under the new Congress.
The February 24 event was held at the Gonzaga Law School in Spokane, Washington. It featured four panels: Natural Resource Damage Claims and Remediation, Current Indian Country Criminal Law Issues, Ethics of Advising Tribal Business Entities and Post-Election Indian Policy Outlook.
Brian joined two other panelists to discuss Indian policy outlook with the new presidential administration and 115th Congress, including Craig Bill, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs for the state of Washington.
In his speech, Brian discussed early Congressional Tribal priorities that would be addressed in the new Congress, including several issues held over from the 114th Congress, Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, Indian energy, Indian roads, Indian housing and the “477” program.
In addition, he recapped of some of the major items to come out of the 114th Congress, including the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act, which Brian had primary responsibility for shepherding through Congress and to President Obama.
Brian also provided information about Congressional action on President Donald Trump’s nominees, current and expected Trump administration priorities, regulatory changes and challenges that tribes will face with the federal budget in the coming years. He also discussed the potential impacts of repealing Obamacare on the Indian health care delivery system, specifically the importance of Medicaid to tribes and the Indian Health Service.
Brian is a principal in the Power Pyles Sutter & Verville Indian Tribal Governments practice. He specializes in matters related to the federal budget and appropriations, natural resources, federal lands and federal land transfers, taxation, energy development, and Indian health.
To view Brian’s full presentation, click here. He can be contacted at Brian.Gunn@PowersLaw.com or 202-872-6747. For more information about the event, visit the Spokane Bar’s website.