Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Recent News About Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Senate passes Native American Child Protection Act; two more bills head to House
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Lisa Murkowski have announced the Senate's passage of H.R. 663, known as the Native American Child Protection Act, which is set to become law.
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Senate passes six bills focusing on native lands and health services
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Lisa Murkowski announced the Senate's approval of six bills related to Native affairs, now moving to the House for further consideration.
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Senate passes bills promoting economic growth in native communities
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Lisa Murkowski have announced the Senate's unanimous approval of three bills aimed at fostering economic development in Native communities nationwide.
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Senate committee advances Patrice Kunesh's nomination to lead Indian Gaming Commission
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, representing Hawaii and chairing the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, facilitated the committee's approval of two bills and a nomination during a recent business meeting.
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Senate passes resolution celebrating National Native American Heritage Month
The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution led by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), recognizing November 2024 as National Native American Heritage Month.
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Schatz and Murkowski respond to Biden's apology on Indian boarding schools
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, vice chairman of the Committee, have issued statements regarding President Joe Biden's formal apology for the federal government's past...
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Symposium in Anchorage to discuss Tribal water and sanitation projects
Staff from the office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, will host a symposium on October 15, 2024, at the Egan Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The event will focus on federal grants for Tribal water and sanitation projects.
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Navy apologizes to Kake village for 1869 bombardment
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski attended a significant ceremony in Kake, Alaska, where the U.S. Navy issued a formal apology for its 1869 bombardment of the village. Murkowski, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has long advocated for this apology, emphasizing the lasting impact on the Tlingit people.
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Senators respond to final Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative report
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released statements regarding the Department of the Interior’s second and final investigative report from its Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. This report expands on details such as attendee deaths, burial sites, participation of religious institutions, and federal funding used to operate these schools. Volume 2 also includes policy recommendations for Congress and the Executive Branch to consider in...
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Senators introduce bill addressing trauma from Indian boarding school era
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a group of senators to discuss her legislation, S.1723, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. Co-authored with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), the bill aims to establish a formal commission to investigate and acknowledge past injustices related to federal Indian Boarding Schools. The proposed commission would also recommend measures for Congress to aid in healing historical and intergenerational trauma within Native families and...
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Murkowski praises Catholic Church's apology over Indian boarding school abuses
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released a statement following the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' formal apology for the church’s role in inflicting abuse and trauma on Indigenous children and their families through Catholic Church-run Indian boarding schools.
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Supreme Court rules in favor of tribes on healthcare cost reimbursement
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released statements following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that mandates federal reimbursement to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe for administrative costs associated with tribal-run federal health care services.
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Murkowski calls for five-year tribal waiver under Build America Buy America Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate on Indian Affairs (SCIA), and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) have expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act and its potential impact on infrastructure development in Native communities. In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Senators highlighted ongoing challenges such as a lack of contractors, remote geography, and supply chain issues that could be exacerbated by BABA's mandates.
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Senator Murkowski introduces bill targeting rabies prevention in rural tribal communities
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), introduced S.4365, the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act, aimed at preventing and controlling severe zoonotic diseases in rural, tribal communities. The bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) to provide veterinary services to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, including spaying and neutering domestic animals.
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Murkowski introduces bill amending Tribal Forest Protection Act for broader tribal participation
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced S.4370, the Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024, aimed at enhancing indigenous stewardship of Federal and Indian forest and rangelands. The original 2004 TFPA law was designed to protect Indian forest lands from threats such as wildfires by allowing Tribes to enter agreements with the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management for forest management activities on federal lands "bordering or adjacent to" tribal lands.
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Legislation introduced to improve services for Native Elders in the United States
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) introduced the Enhancing Native Elders’ Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect (Native ELDER) Act to improve federal programs and services for Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian Elders. The legislation, introduced in May, coincides with the national observance of Older Americans Month.
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Senate Passes Resolution Recognizing Successes and Contributions of Native Women
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution led by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Brian Schatz, honoring the achievements of Native women in the United States. Vice Chairman Murkowski expressed her pride in the Senate's support for the resolution, stating, "Native women have helped shape our country in areas of military service, arts, science, culture, language, human rights, and sports." Chairman Schatz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical importance of recognizing the impacts of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women on...
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Committee Hears from Native Leaders, Officials, Organizations on Public Safety Concerns in Native Communities
Yesterday, the Committee held a hybrid listening session, “Public Safety & Justice Resources in Native Communities,” to hear from Native leaders, individuals, and organizations on public safety matters affecting their communities. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, delivered opening remarks.“This Committee takes public safety in Native communities very seriously,” said Chairman Schatz. “We recognize the diversity of needs – from law...
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Senator Murkowski Welcomes $30.4 Million for Climate Projects in Alaska Tribal Communities
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, expressed her appreciation for the recent announcement of more than $30.4 million allocated for 42 climate resilience projects in tribal communities across Alaska. The funding for these projects was provided through various sources including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and the annual appropriations process."The selection of more than 40 climate resilience projects across tribal communities in Alaska is a significant step...
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Schatz, Murkowski Lead Legislative Hearing on Indian Affairs
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led a legislative hearing on Indian Affairs on February 8, 2024. The hearing saw testimony from a range of key figures in the field.Among those who testified were "Assistant Secretary for Legislation Melanie Anne Egorin from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services" and "Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kathryn Isom-Clause from the U.S. Department of the Interior"....