WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced today the completion of a historic interagency memorandum of agreement (MOA) between 12 federal agencies for expanded participation by federal agencies in the 477-Demonstration Project (“477-initiative”). The MOA is a key requirement identified in amendments provided under the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2017, Public Law 115-93, as signed by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2017. The 477-initiative was initially created by Public Law 102-477, the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992, 25 U.S.C. section 3401 et seq., which allows federally recognized Tribes to integrate employment and training-related, formula-funded federal grants into a single plan with a single budget and single reporting system to improve effectiveness of those services, reduce joblessness in Indian communities, while reducing administrative, reporting, and accounting costs.
“Tribal prosperity starts with a skilled workforce,” said Secretary Zinke. “Bringing federal agencies together to create job-training programs in Indian Country seems like a no-brainer, but it took the leadership of President Donald J. Trump to make this happen. This new agreement will streamline key processes across our government, allowing for the flexibility needed to best fit tribal industries and economies. Every American Indian should have a path to success through the dignity of work - that is the American Dream.”
“I thank Secretary Zinke for his leadership in expanding federal participation in the 477-initiative,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Mac Lean Sweeney. “The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Workforce Development is proudly committed to streamlining the administration of the 477-initiative because job training is an essential component in how Native families gain access to economic security. We look forward to closely working with the other 11 federal agencies to make tribal economies robust.”
Since the inception of the 477 Demonstration Project, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has served as the lead agency for implementation. The Division of Workforce Development within the BIA Office of Indian Services will continue to spearhead the implementation of the 2017 amendments and the responsibilities outlined in the MOA. More than 220 Tribes utilize the 477-initiative to streamline the administration of tribal job training programs.
List of participating federal agencies since 1992:
- Department of Education
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of the Interior
- Department of Labor
List of additional participating federal agencies since 2017:
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Energy
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Department of Justice
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Veteran Affairs
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