Liz unveils plan to aid Native Americans

Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren unveiled an expansive plan to aid tribal nations Friday — the day after President Trump mocked her claims of Native American heritage during a New Hampshire campaign rally.

“Washington owes Native communities a fighting chance to build stronger communities and a brighter future,” Warren wrote in an online Medium post.

Warren’s latest policy proposal focuses on improving health care in Native American communities, expanding access to educational and economic opportunities, preserving tribal sovereignty and addressing criminal justice issues.

Her lengthy plan would create a cabinet-level Council on Native American Affairs and protect tribal lands in part by revoking permits for the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. It wraps in some initiatives Warren has already proposed, such as universal child care and investing in higher education institutions serving minorities.

The Massachusetts senator has struggled in handling her claims of Native American ancestry, and made no mention of the controversy in her proposal. Warren stated on her Texas state bar card registration that she was “American Indian” and Harvard University touted her as a minority hire in 1996. Last October, Warren released DNA test results showing she had an Indian ancestor six to 10 generations back, and later apologized to the Cherokee Nation.

But Warren has surged in the polls despite concerns the issue would derail her presidential campaign.

Trump took notice, telling his rally crowd of thousands, “I did the Pocahontas thing. I hit her really hard and it looked like she was down and out, but that was too long ago. I should have waited. But don’t worry. We will revive it.”