Education | Politics

Senate Indian Affairs Committee business meeting and hearing






Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), on right, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), on left, are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Photo from April 9, 2014, hearing

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a business meeting and oversight hearing this Wednesday.

Seven bills are on the agenda for the business meeting, which will not be webcast. They are:
S.1474, the Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act . The bill encourages the state of Alaska to enter into agreements with tribes regarding law enforcement. More significantly, it repeals the Section 910, Special Rule for the State of Alaska from S.47, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, so Alaska tribes can exercise jurisdiction over non-Indian domestic violence offenders. The committee held a hearing on the bill on April 2.
S.1603, the Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act, a bill to clarify that land already placed in trust for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatami Indians in Michigan can't be challenged under the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. The committee held a hearing on May 7.
S.1622, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act. The bill creates a national commission to study issues affecting American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth. The bill was heard on April 2.
S.1818, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe - Fish Springs Ranch Settlement Act, a bill to ratify a water settlement for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada. The committee held a hearing on May 7.
S.2040, the Blackfoot River Land Exchange Act, a bill to resolve a land settlement with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho. The bill was heard on May 7.
S.2132, the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments. The bill encourages tribes to submit tribal energy resource agreements. A hearing took place on May 2.
H.R. 2388, a land-into-trust bill for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians in California. The committee has not held a hearing on the bill but it already passed the House after a hearing on July 23, 2013.

The business meeting will be followed immediately by an oversight hearing into Indian education. This one will focus on the Bureau of Indian Education.

Committee Notices:
Business Meeting to consider the following legislation (May 21, 2014)
Oversight Hearing on "Indian Education Series: Ensuring the Bureau of Indian Education has the Tools Necessary to Improve" (May 21, 2014)

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