U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), leaders of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced that the Senate has passed 12 bills aimed at supporting Native communities. These bills were previously advanced by the committee earlier in the year.
The legislation addresses a range of issues important to Native peoples, including reinforcing Tribal sovereignty, protecting sacred sites, improving public health and safety, settling land claims, strengthening water rights settlements, and expanding economic and housing opportunities.
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.”
Chairman Murkowski added: “As Chairman, I’m proud of our committee’s strong bipartisan work on legislation important to Native peoples. 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.”
The Senate approved these measures by unanimous consent. In addition to these bills, several House-passed measures have also been approved by the Senate and are awaiting signature by the President.
