U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), who serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced that the Senate has passed 12 bills aimed at supporting Native communities. The measures were previously advanced by the committee earlier in the year.
The legislative package addresses a range of issues, including Tribal sovereignty, protection of sacred sites, public health and safety improvements, resolution of land claims, water rights settlements, and expanded economic and housing opportunities for Native communities.
“As Chairman, I’m proud of our committee’s strong bipartisan work on legislation important to Native peoples,” said Chairman Murkowski. “Moving these bills forward is an important step toward enhancing public safety, promoting public health, expanding access to tribal homeownership, empowering tribes to better manage their own resources and helping tribes complete critical water projects. I welcome this good progress for Native communities and look forward to working with my House colleagues to get these bills to the President’s desk.”
Vice Chairman Schatz stated: “The bills we advanced out of the Senate on a unanimous, bipartisan basis – including on the completion of water rights settlements, Tribal public health, or public safety – will help support and strengthen Native communities all across the country. I’m proud to have worked with Chairman Murkowski to deliver for Native communities and look forward to help getting them across the finish line in the House.”
In addition to passing its own legislation by unanimous consent, the Senate approved several House-passed measures related to Native affairs. These are now set to be signed into law by the President.
