WASHINGTON D.C. – On Wednesday, October 30 at 2:30 PM, Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) will chair a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs business meeting followed by a legislative hearing on three bills that would extend federal recognition to Tribes in Virginia, North Carolina and Montana.
The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act (S. 1074), introduced by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA), would extend federal recognition to six Virginia Tribes: the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, the Monacan Indian Nation and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. The legislation would also provide each Tribe with a land base that would serve as their reservation.
The Lumbee Recognition Act (S. 1132), introduced by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Kay Hagan (D-NC), would extend federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the Tribe.
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2013 (S. 161), introduced by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Max Baucus (D-MT), would provide federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. The legislation would establish a service area for the Tribe and would require the Secretary of the Interior to take 200 acres of land in trust for the Band to be used as a Tribal land base.
The Committee will receive the views of the Department of the Interior on these three bills. The Committee will also hear testimony from leaders of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Lumbee Tribe and the Little Shell Tribe on the impact of the proposed legislation on their communities.
The hearing will take place in Room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, and will be available online at indian.senate.gov.
Prior to the hearing, the Committee will hold a business meeting to consider three bills: the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act (S. 235), the Sandia Pueblo Settlement Technical Amendment Act (S. 611), and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Non-Intercourse Act of 2013 (S. 920).
DETAILS
WHAT: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs business meeting on S. 235, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act; S. 611, the Sandia Pueblo Settlement Technical Amendment Act; and S. 920, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Non-Intercourse Act of 2013 to be followed immediately by a legislative hearing on S. 1074, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2013; S. 1132, the Lumbee Recognition Act; and S. 161, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2013.
WHEN: 2:30 PM, Wednesday, October 30, 2013
WHERE: 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Live video and witness testimony will be provided at indian.senate.gov.
WITNESS LIST
Panel I:
THE HONORABLE TIMOTHY KAINE, Senator (D-VA), United States Senate, Washington, DC
THE HONORABLE RICHARD BURR, Senator (R-NC), United States Senate, Washington, DC
THE HONORABLE KAY HAGAN (D-NC), Senator, United States Senate, Washington, DC
Panel II:
THE HONORABLE KEVIN WASHBURN, Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Panel III:
THE HONORABLE STEPHEN ADKINS, Chief, Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Charles City, VA
THE HONORABLE PAUL BROOKS, Chairman, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Pembroke, NC
THE HONORABLE GERALD GRAY, Chairman, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Black Eagle, MT
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Contact: REID WALKER
Contact Phone: 202-224-0466