WHEREAS, the United States of America has within its political structure three sovereigns, federal, state and tribal governments, each with their own sovereign powers, including but not limited to determining and adjudicating criminal acts, civil wrongs, domestic relations, and exercising government to government relationships; and

WHEREAS, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13175, entitled “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,” on November 6, 2000, directing that federal departments will consult with Indian Tribal governments on issues that affect them; and

WHEREAS, in a June 9, 2002 letter to Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to President Bush wrote, “in early 2001, the Bush Administration reviewed the Executive Order and found it to be consistent with the views of the Administration on Tribal consultation and coordination,” thus clarifying that federal agencies must continue to consult with Indian Tribal governments of issues affecting them; and

WHEREAS, the war on terrorism is an issue that has a significant affect on Indian Country, further heightened by the 275 miles of international boundaries controlled by Tribal governments and the numerous dams and energy-producing infrastructures within Indian country that are vital to the safety and welfare of the citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Tribal governments have been generally overlooked when congressional funding strategies are developed and when funding has been made available to federal and state agencies, once again Tribal governments are overlooked; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes that the language in funding proposals and other documents that describe eligibility for funding and or services do not specifically mention Tribal governments, which results, on occasion, in the elimination of Tribal governments for consideration of federal funding and services; and

WHEREAS, it is reasonable to believe that Tribal governments were not intentionally declared ineligible for federal funds or services, but were simply overlooked, particularly when there is a call for a coordinated national response to combat terrorism at a levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police calls upon all federal departments and agencies to comply with the spirit of the Executive Order “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments” and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police calls upon all federal departments, agencies and Congress, where appropriate to include specific language when drafting legislation, requests for proposals, funding applications, policies and speeches identifying Tribal governments as eligible for funding and services by including the following phrase, “Federal, Tribal, State, and, Local governments,” in lieu of the current language of “Federal, State and Local governments.”