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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2002

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton testified today for nearly two hours before a packed hearing of the House Resources Committee.

The turnout was so large that a second room handled overflow traffic. All listened intently as Norton explained why she hatched her Indian trust reorganization without tribal consultation and why 90 percent of her computer systems remain shut down.

Norton responded, evasively at times, to questions by members on both sides of the aisle who had doubts about the overhaul. A number, including Rep. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), noted the negative impact of the shutdown on Indian beneficiaries.

After her rounds of questioning were complete, Norton left the hearing. Special Trustee Tom Slonaker, Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb, Associate Deputy Secretary Jim Cason and Trust Transition Chief Ross Swimmer stayed for the remainder.

Interior Solicitor Bill Myers made an appearance. Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles did not attend as he was testifying in the contempt trial a few blocks away in federal court.

Two panels of tribal, individual and trust representatives followed. After a couple of breaks for House votes, the hearing ended at approximately 4 p.m.

Get the Story:
Norton Plan for Indian Trusts Meets With Skepticism on Hill (The Washington Post 2/7)
House committee hears testimony on Native trust fund (The Lincoln Journal Star 2/7)
Rahall wants to reform American Indian trusts (The Charlestown Gazette 2/7)
Indians seek to block Norton plan (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 2/7)
Norton says trust reform to cost hundreds of millions (The Denver Post 2/7)
American Indians want trust fund managed independently (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 2/7)
Norton blasted for trust fund fiasco (The Great Falls Tribune 2/7)
Norton Optimistic About Indian Fund (AP 2/7)
Activists Blast Plan to Reform Indian Trust Fund (Scripps-McClatchy News Service 2/7)
Interior Dept says no end in sight for Web site woes (Reuters 2/6)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

Related Stories:
Tribes take assault to Congress (2/6)
Judge rejects 'improper' request by Norton (2/6)
Trust drives small increase in BIA budget (2/5)
Interior security funds outlined (2/5)
Monitor's 'only hope' seen as termination (2/4)
Memo sounded early warning on TAAMS (2/4)
Indian Country lacks confidence in Norton (2/4)
On the Indian trust bandwagon (2/4)
No light at end of Interior tunnel (2/4)
Norton's weekend in the woods (2/1)
Norton sketches trust reform budget (2/1)
Additional consultation meeting set (1/31)
BITAM comments available for review (1/30)
McCaleb talks of termination of trust (1/29)
Tribal leaders clamor for EDS report (1/29)
Trust Reform: Consulting on a blank page (1/28)
McCaleb making address to USET (1/28)
Next BITAM consultation in Alaska (1/22)
Editorial: Norton, McCaleb 'deluding' selves (1/21)
Tribes slam Norton's trust proposal (1/18)
Opinions and Views on Indian Trust (1/18)
Tribal leaders preparing for BITAM (1/16)
Consultation continues in South Dakota (1/11)
Tribes prepare for BITAM consultation (1/10)
Indian trust consultation on Jan. 10 (1/8)
EDS trust report being finalized (1/8)
Tribes fending off Norton proposal (1/4)
More BITAM consultations planned (1/4)
Editorial: No confidence in Norton plan (1/2)
Norton circles her wagon (1/2)
Trust fund regulations revised (1/2)
Cobell: Justice for Indian Country (12/24)
Tribal leaders blast Norton proposal (12/21)
Consultation wagon continues in Minn. (12/20)
Interior might hold more consultations (12/20)
Checks to Great Lakes region delayed (12/20)
Taking lead on trust reform proves tough (12/19)
DOI promises web site update (12/18)
BITAM consultation on Dec. 20 (12/17)
Tribes continue assault on Norton plan (12/14)
In The Hoop: The War on Tribalism (12/14)
Norton must end the Indian Trust sham (12/13)
Tribal consultation begins on BITAM (12/13)
Norton set for first consultation (12/13)
Attorneys barred from BITAM consultation (12/12)
NPR covers BIA overhaul, trust fund (12/11)
Indian panel urging BITAM slow down (12/10)
Norton 'offers' to meet with tribes (12/7)
Norton cleared for tribal consultation (12/6)
House to hold hearings on BIA overhaul (12/5)
McCaleb doubts tribal opposition (12/4)
Interior extends comment period (12/4)
Trust fund report still can't be found (12/4)
Tribal leaders worried about consultation (12/4)