A late night vote in the U-S Senate could threaten a portion of the Seneca Nation of Indians cigarette business. Senators voted unanimously to ban the U-S Postal Service from mailing tobacco products.
NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says the goal of the legislation is to protect kids. "Its very important that we do everything we can to make sure children don't smoke. Children smoking is an unacceptable statistic that we need to fight against and what we found is that children are getting access to cigarettes by ordering over the internet so we want to really proclude mail ordering of cigarettes unless there's protections put in place that really assure that our young children aren't smoking."
But in statement, the Senecas vehemently oppose the bill which they say will cost hundreds of jobs. Richard Nephew, the Chair of Seneca Nation Council and CoChair of the Foreign Relations Committee said that the Senate’s action will cost Western New York more than 1,000 tobacco industry jobs, jobs held by Native and non-Native alike. “The PACT Act will deal a destructive blow to the private sector economy at the Seneca Nation and have negative repercussive effects on all of Western New York,” said Councilor Nephew.
The House has already passed a similiar bill. Congressman Brian Higgins says he'll work with the Senecas on the issue. "Any change is going to have an impact on an economy so we're going to have to look at it, we're going to listen to what they have to say relative to the impact on employment." The House and Senate must now agree on a compromise bill.
The complete statement from the Seneca Nation of Indians:
CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, NY — Members of the Seneca Nation Council and the Foreign Relations Committee emphatically opposed action taken by the United States Senate yesterday which voted to pass the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act). The measure, which now goes to the House for a vote, would prohibit tobacco products produced and sold by Native American businesses to be mailed through the US Postal Service.
Richard Nephew, the Chair of Seneca Nation Council and CoChair of the Foreign Relations Committee said that the Senate’s action will cost Western New York more than 1,000 tobacco industry jobs, jobs held by Native and non-Native alike. “The PACT Act will deal a destructive blow to the private sector economy at the Seneca Nation and have negative repercussive effects on all of Western New York,” said Councilor Nephew.
“The passage of the PACT Act should draw outrage and opposition from every corner of Indian Country. This is not so much about tobacco consumption as it is about who profits from it. Aside from tobacco, all Indian nations should be concerned about the federal government’s attempt to confer further jurisdictional power to states over Indian Territories; this invites much trouble.”
The measure will now move to the House for a vote, but the Seneca Nation is not about to give up.
J.C.Seneca, Councilor and CoChair of the Seneca Nation Foreign Relations Committee suggests that this action is part of a broader effort to diminish Native economic gains. “The ultimate effect of this legislation makes it clear that Termination Era policies to eradicate Indians and treaty rights in New York and across this country are alive and well,” said Seneca. “Congress has taken the first step on turning the clock back on the Indians in trying to return us to the want, squalor and dependency of the past. As Indian people we have faced these types of challenges and opposition on a daily basis. This one action by Congress will not hinder our ability to fight and overcome encroachments by the United States or New York State. We will continue to strive to provide health and education programs and essential services for our people. We will succeed, will not back down and we will take very measure to defend and protect our treaties; those that our ancestors secured and protected for us so that we will continue to enjoy those rights today and in the future.”
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have been praised in the media for sponsorship of the PACT Act, calling it a victory for health advocates, but the Seneca Nation Council sees it differently. “The win today is for big tobacco and Philip Morris. Make no mistake, big tobacco is still in business peddling cigarettes,” said Richard Nephew. “Our New York Senators have turned their backs on Western New Yorkers and will send more than 1,000 people home without paychecks. Many of those people vote.”
Nephew alluded to a recent commitment made by the Seneca Nation to launch a new voter outreach campaign to raise awareness about voting records and implications to the Western New York economy.
J.C. Seneca noted that the implications of the PACT Act extend beyond New York State and have the potential to thwart Native sovereignty and the Nation-to-Nation relationships that have long been established. Seneca further called upon the Obama administration to uphold its commitments to Indian Country. “What the Senate has done here flies in the face of the executive order that calls for tribal consultation in matters integrally affecting Native communities. The matter of government-to-government relations must be addressed.”
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