A view of Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. The "Sky City" village is a well-known and popular tourist attraction. Photo from Sky City Casino Hotel / Facebook
The House Committee on Natural Resources is meeting this week to consider a slew of bills. Three bills of interest to Indian Country are on the agenda. They are:
• H.R.1157, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians Land Transfer Act. The bill places about 1,400 acres in trust for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The measure was the subject of a heated hearing before teh House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing in June 2015, with lawmakers from both parties imploring local leaders to work with the tribe. Talks failed to result in any sort of agreement.The markup starts on Tuesday at 4pm in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building and continues at 10am on Wednesday. The committee typically approves Indian bills without much debate although H.R.1157 might draw discussion due to its controversial nature. House Committee on Natural Resources Notices:
• S.246, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act. The bill creates a commission to study ways to improve programs for American Indian and Alaska Native youth. The House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing on May 18 and the measure drew bipartisan support. The Senate passed the bill in June 2015 so the markup puts it closer to passage in the House.
• S.1579, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act. The bill requires the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior to update their management plans and tourism strategies to include tribes, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. It passed the Senate in April.
Full Committee Markup [4pm session] (July 12, 2016)
Full Committee Markup [10am session] (July 13, 2016)
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