Legislative Session - 06/30/2025

Legislative Meeting
Written By Steve Livingston

A RESOLUTON APPROVING THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION'S APPLICATION FOR FUNDING UNDER THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF TOPEKA FISCAL YEAR 2025 NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING INITIATIVES GRANT PROGRAM

Vote: Abstain
Link: Native American Housing Initiatives Grants Program

Purpose of the Grant:

The Native American Housing Initiatives (NAHI) Grant Program, administered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, is a voluntary initiative designed to support housing rehabilitation and development in Native communities across its four-state district (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma).

  • Funding Amounts: Available in tranches between $100,000 and $500,000.

  • Eligible Recipients: Federally recognized tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs), applying through an FHLBank member institution.

  • Use of Funds: Supports tribal-led, community-level housing projects—such as rehabilitating homes, enhancing accessibility, acquiring land, or developing new housing. Tribes are encouraged to articulate capacity-building goals aligned with their housing strategies

Note: This grant cannot be used to support housing rehabilitation and development outside of the four-state district.

Reason:
I abstained from this vote due to not having sufficient information regarding the long-term vision for the property connected to this application and how it aligns with our broader strategic housing initiatives. In particular, I had concerns about the unresolved challenges of placing this land into trust, and at what point our Nation intends to either make a concerted effort to do so or consider abandoning the effort altogether. While I supported other resolutions that lacked detailed performance measures or long-term plans, I felt that in this case, the nature of the grant and its implications for land use and development required more clarity before I could cast a confident vote in support.

Generally, I’m supportive of any initiative that expands housing access for our elders and community members, including our elders in Kansas. I also believe it’s important that we align these efforts with a clear long-term vision to ensure we’re building toward sustainable and coordinated outcomes.

An important takeaway from the meeting is that our rental income generally sustains itself when the duplexes are at full capacity. Currently, there are four vacancies—soon to be three—with one unit occupied by a Prairie Band elder, another incoming Prairie Band elder, and the remaining units occupied by Citizen Potawatomi elders. Renovations over the past year have primarily focused on upgrading bathrooms to ensure they are accessible and supportive of elder needs.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION'S APPLICATION FOR FUNDING UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TITLE VI PART A (GRANTS FOR NATIVE AMERICANS) AND PART C (CAREGIVERS)

Vote: Konëgé
Link: Services for Native Americans (OAA Title VI)

Purpose of the Grant:
The HHS Title VI Grants—Part A (Grants for Native American Elders) and Part C (Native American Family Caregiver Support)—are federal formula grants under the Older Americans Act, administered by the Administration for Community Living. Their purpose is to support tribal programs for elders and caregivers by providing appropriate nutrition, home- and congregate-meals, supportive services (like transportation, health screenings, personal care), and caregiver assistance such as counseling, training, access support, and respite care. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has operated its Title VI Elder Program since the early 1980s.

CPN’s Recent Funding:
For FY 2025, CPN was authorized for (source):

  • $196,340 in Title VI Part A (grants for elders)

  • $75,270 in Part C (caregiver support), awarded in multiple installments

Reason:
Based on the information provided to the Legislature and relying on the due diligence of our Tribal administration, I voted Konëgé (Yes) to approve the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s application for continued HHS Title VI, Part A and Part C funding. This grant enables essential services—such as elder nutrition, wellness visits, home and congregate meals, and caregiver counseling and respite care—that support our elders and their families. Going forward, I will be requesting statistics and performance metrics from the relevant departments, including how many Native American elders have been served through these programs and how many of them are Citizen Potawatomi. My goal is to ensure our community has a clearer understanding of the work being done with these grants and the positive impact they have on both Citizen Potawatomi citizens and the broader Native elder population.

A RESOLUTION OF ENROLLMENT INTO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION

Vote: Konëgé
Reason:
Based on the information provided to the Legislature and in reliance on the due diligence and recommendations of our Tribal Rolls Department, I voted Konëgé (Yes) to approve enrollment for 97 new members into the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. I believe it is our duty to welcome those who meet the established criteria and who seek connection to our shared identity and community.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FEE-TO-TRUST ACQUISITION APPLICATION TO THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND REQUEST FOR TRUST ACQUISITION OF THE (NON-GAMING/ON RESERVATION) CLAUD TAYLOR PROPERTY

Vote: Konëgé
Reason:
I voted in favor of this resolution because I generally support any opportunity to grow our Nation’s land base. This particular property, located near Little Axe, Oklahoma—approaching Norman and Lake Thunderbird, just west of Shawnee—is a strategically located piece of land on the outskirts of the growing Norman and Oklahoma City area. Whether the intent is to build housing, pursue economic development, or restore natural habitat, placing land into trust strengthens our sovereignty and gives us the flexibility to meet the evolving needs of future generations.

Steve Livingston