The Committee will come to order.
Good morning and welcome to the first of our public witness hearing dedicated to American Indian and Alaska Native programs.
On a personal note, I am thrilled to return as Chairman of the Interior subcommittee for the 118th Congress. The critical issues of this subcommittee are near and dear to me and my home state of Idaho.
I look forward to working with Ranking Member Pingree to advance programs that help conserve and protect our nation’s most critical natural, cultural, and environmental resources, and strengthen the Committee’s longstanding efforts to increase the federal commitment to honor our treaties and trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
I’m proud that our very first hearing for fiscal year 2024 appropriations focuses on these very important Tribal programs. Indian Country has been and will continue to be a bipartisan priority for this subcommittee.
I also want to welcome all the distinguished Tribal elders and leaders here today. Thank you to all our witnesses for appearing before the Committee and sharing your concerns and personal perspectives on these important topics.
Original source can be found here.
