Michael L. Connor, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior.
The Obama administration is holding a media call tomorrow to discuss the next steps for the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. Deputy Secretary Michael Connor, the second-highest ranking official at the Interior Department, and Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will participate in the call tomorrow afternoon. They will discuss the implementation plan from now through the end of calendar year 2015. The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement authorized $1.9 billion for land consolidation. The program is entirely voluntary and any interests that are acquired are returned to tribal governments. So far, DOI has extended more than $100 million in offers to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Makah Nation. Members of Congress say the administration has moved too slowly and hasn't worked closely enough with more tribes to implement the program.
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