WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Committee, released the below statements on Senate passage of H.R. 1722, the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, and H.R. 2839, a bill to amend the Siletz Reservation Act to address the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and for other purposes, which are set to become law, and the following bills, which head to the House for further consideration:
- S. 195, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2023
- S. 382, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Land into Trust Confirmation Act of 2023
- S. 950, the Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023
“These bills are an important part of the Committee’s work to address historical injustices and uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations,” said Chairman Schatz. “I look forward to getting these and other Senate-passed Indian Affairs bills across the finish line.”
“From settling Indian land claims and restoring homelands to supporting self-governance and access to housing, the Committee has advanced important tribal priorities this session,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski. “I thank Chairman Schatz and my colleagues for their work on these measures and I look forward to continuing our work together next year.”
The five Indian Affairs bills join six others passed by the Senate this session, including two that became law:
- H.R. 423, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023 (enacted)
- S. 1308, a bill to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to extend the deadline for the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations implementing title IV of that Act, and for other purposes (enacted)
- S. 70, the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2023
- S. 460, the Urban Indian Health Confer Act
- S. 2285, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2023 (only adopted in the Senate NDAA)
- S. 1987, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023 (only adopted in the Senate NDAA)