The House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing on Thursday to consider two bills.

H.R. 205, the HEARTH Act, and H.R. 2362, the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act, have different goals. But both cut the Bureau of Indian Affairs out of the process for approving certain leases.

"We continue to hear from tribes that it can take months and, in some cases, years to approve simple lease agreements at the Bureau of Indian Affairs," Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the chairman of the subcommittee, said in his opening statement. "These long delays hurt the tribe's ability to spur economic development and create jobs."

"Both of these bills will help tribal governments cut through the bureaucratic red tape," Young added.

The HEARTH Act allows tribes to develop their own housing regulations. Once approved, the BIA won't have to approve every lease for every new development.

The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act affects business leases. It allows up to six tribes, or six groups of tribes, to submit applications to work directly with companies from Turkey.

The Obama administration "strongly supports" the HEARTH Act, BIA Director Michael S. Black testified. But he said there were some concerns about the Turkish trade bill.

Get the Story:
Quapaw chairman testifies in support of ties with Turkey (The Joplin Globe 11/3)
Bill to give boost to tribe-Turkey business links (The Tulsa World 11/4)
Turkey may get exclusive US right to trade with native Indians (World Bulletin 11/4)

Committee Notice:
Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R. 205 and H.R. 2362 (November 3, 2011)

Related Stories:
Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee sets hearing (11/2)