For Immediate Release
August 7, 2021
Contact:
Manu Tupper or Mike Inacay (Schatz) at press@indian.senate.gov
SCHATZ APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF BRYAN TODD NEWLAND FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY-INDIAN AFFAIRS
Newland Is the Department of the Interior’s Highest-Ranking Senate-Confirmed Official in Indian Affairs
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, issued the following statement upon Senate confirmation of Mr. Bryan Todd Newland, of Michigan, to serve as Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.
“Mr. Newland has invaluable experience as a Tribal Leader, personal and in-depth knowledge of the issues facing Tribes, expertise in complex areas of Federal Indian law, an understanding of Interior’s unique role in fulfilling and enforcing the federal trust responsibility to Native peoples, and a diplomatic and respectful approach to honoring Tribal sovereignty,” said Chairman Schatz. “It is clear from the record that Mr. Newland has the qualifications to succeed in this role, and to serve this country with honor as one of the chief federal advocates for American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives.”
The Assistant Secretary is the Department’s highest-ranking Senate-confirmed official in Indian Affairs and has the solemn responsibility of maintaining the United States’ government-to-government relationship with sovereign Tribal Nations. Newland’s nomination received letters of support from more than 40 Tribes and Tribal organizations. Schatz led passage of Newland’s nomination through the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs last month.
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