Opinion ID: 415735
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Tribal Organization Contract Claims

Text: 16 Since 1977, AVCP and other Alaska tribal organizations have contracted with BIA for administration of general assistance funds to tribal communities pursuant to the authority of the Indian Self-Determination Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 450f-n (1976). 7 Section 450f(a) provides: 17 The Secretary of the Interior is directed, upon the request of any Indian tribe, to enter into a contract or contracts with any tribal organization of any such Indian tribe to plan, conduct, and administer programs, or portions thereof ... which the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to administer for the benefit of Indians under sections 13 and 52a of this title and any act subsequent thereto [Snyder Act].... 18 25 U.S.C. Sec. 450f(a) (1976). 19 The AVCP administered Snyder Act general assistance funds pursuant to such contracts to many tribal communities in remote areas, serving some 1700 persons. The contracts were to run until September 30, 1983. Procedures for entering contracts, modifying contracts, and terminating contracts as promulgated by the BIA are contained in 25 C.F.R. Secs. 271.11-.28; 271.61-.66 (1982). The contracts were terminated without notice or procedures required by the BIA regulations on April 1, 1982. 20 The district court heard no oral argument on AVCP's motion for preliminary injunction, and issued its order stating: Plaintiffs' arguments based on 25 U.S.C. Sec. 450 et seq. [Indian Self-Determination Act] are inapposite for the reason that general assistance payments are not within the purview of the legislation. The decision incorporated the findings in Wilson v. Watt, which stated: The court finds that Congress did not express its intent as to how and when these funds [the $4 million Alaska Native general assistance appropriation] should be spent in the appropriations bill, Public Law 97-100, 95 Stat. 1399. 21 The Appropriation Act, however, expressly states: 22 [T]he funds made available to tribes and tribal organizations through contracts authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (88 Stat. 2203; 25 U.S.C. Sec. 450 et seq.) shall remain available until September 30, 1983: Provided, That this carryover authority does not extend to programs directly operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.... 23 Act of December 23, 1981, Pub.L. 97-100, 95 Stat. 1399. 8 24 The district court misunderstood the nature of the contract claims and misinterpreted the Appropriations Act. In view of the statutes and regulations providing for contracts pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination Act, the policy statements of Congress regarding these contracts, 9 and the plain wording of the Appropriations Act, AVCP has demonstrated a fair chance of success on whether Congress preserved funds for the AVCP-BIA contracts through September 30, 1983. As the Supreme Court has recently reminded us, [I]n determining the scope of a statute, one is to look first at its language. Lewis v. United States, 445 U.S. at 60 [100 S.Ct. 915, 918, 63 L.Ed.2d 198]; United States v. Turkette, 452 U.S. 576, 580 [101 S.Ct. 2524, 2527, 69 L.Ed.2d 246] (1981). Dickerson v. New Banner Institute, --- U.S. ----, ----, 103 S.Ct. 986, 990, 74 L.Ed.2d 845 (1983). To determine this claim, the plain language is quite adequate. 25