we have fellows in and turns that come to ncai.ood share of our staff are fellow interns and we also have a youth commission. we have a number of youth partners that we collaborate together with including ncai and ie and we have developed a youth agenda. we have a youth web site to connect to youth in many ways and will continue to connect with youth. we have a great agenda for this year. one last question here. can i have a question from the audience here? >> jim myers. the bipartisan approach taken by congress in the legislation, that doesn't always translate into -- can you identify two pieces of legislation that you believe must be passed by the upcoming session of congress before it can be viewed as a success by the indian country? >> i think the most pressing need that we have is the legislation. that has been a priority for indian country for the last several years and it has been, it almost was passed last year. we almost got there. we ran into a whole i believe that is the number one priority. the other would be as we ment

we have fellas and interns to come to ncai. a good share of first half, fellas and interns and we also have a youth commission. we have a number of these partners we collaborate together with, including ncai and nie. are these hmr website weekend connect to use in many ways and will continue to connect with you. we have a great agenda for this year. one last question here. can i have a question from the audience? >> jay myers. you speak of the bipartisan approach is sometimes in congress is on different pieces of legislation. but that doesn't always translate into success. can you identify two pieces of legislation that you believe must be passed by the upcoming session of congress before it can be viewed as a success by the ending country? >> i think the most pressing need do we have is the legislation -- that has been a priority for indian country for the past several years and it almost was passed last year. we almost got there. we ran into a whole i believe, but that is the number one priority. the other goodby is a much ea

we have fellows and interns that come to ncai. a good share of our staff and we also have a youth commission. we have a number of youth partners that we work -- collaborate together with, including niea and we developed a youth jeapeda. so we have a youth web page on our website. we can connect to youth in ways we have great agenda for this year. one last question here. can i have a question from the audience here. yes. >> you speak of the bipartisan approach that's taken sometimes in congress on different pieces of legislation. but that doesn't always translate into success. can you identify two pieces of legislation that you believe must be passed by the upcoming session of congress before it can be viewed as a success by the indian country? >> i think the most pressing need that we have is the criteria fix. the legislation, that's been the priority for indian country for the past several years. and it has been -- it almost was passed last year. we almost got there. it ran into a hold i believe. but that is the number one priori

so, yes, we do have a mentor program at ncai.erns that come here, a good share of our staff, our fellows and interns, and we also have a youth commission. we have a number of youth partners that we collaborate together with, including niea, and we developed a youth agenda, so we can connect to youth in many ways, and we'll continue to connect with youth, and we have a great agenda for this year. one last question here. can i have a question from the audience here? >> you speak of the bipartisan approach that's taken sometimes in congress on different pieces of legislation, but that doesn't always translate into success. can you identify two pieces of legislation that you believe must be passed by the upcoming session of congress before it can be viewed as a success by the indian country? >> i think the most pressing need we have is a criteria fix. the legislation, that's been the priority for indian country for the past several years, and it has been -- it almost was passed last year. we almost got there. it ran into a hold, i be

ncai is the largest, oldest organization in washington, d.c. representing the tribal governments across the country. i'd like to welcome our distinguished guests to washington dc. we have many listening to us across the country to watch the state of 2012 state of indian nations address and across the country we have students tribal citizens and leaders and have gathered in the schools and the centers to watch the events together. among many of the events across the country we are pleased that the history class in santa fe mexico is joining us. we have the university of oklahoma of law and the center for american youth and washington, d.c. and the travel office and the indian tribe of wisconsin. leaders of tomorrow and today and there are other events across the country and we are glad am happy they are joining us. we have an incredible turn out today and we would like to acknowledge some of the guests in the audience and among those guests we have our board members of nci point we have the president, chairman ron allen, chairman matthew, presid