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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2002

The following is a text of a letter Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) sent to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton. February 28, 2002.

The Honorable Gale Norton
Secretary, Department of the Interior
1849 C St NW
Washington DC 20240

Dear Secretary Norton:

Late yesterday I received a report from the Department of the Interior’s inspector general regarding the federal tribal recognition process. As you know, last year I requested that the IG conduct a sweeping investigation into the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) after a series of articles in the Boston Globe, which raised a number of questions about the actions of two political appointees at the BIA.

The report confirmed my suspicions that the federal tribal recognition process has been compromised. In light of the abuses documented in the report, I urge you to move quickly to submit legislative proposals to Congress which would address the present weaknesses in the process.

I commend the Bush Administration for rescinding the six tribal recognitions which took place in the final days of the Clinton Administration, as it has become increasingly clear that in an unprecedented move, the recommendations of the Branch of Acknowledgement and Research experts at BIA were simply being ignored.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter which concerns the very integrity of our government. Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress

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