WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, the Senate approved eight bills that were passed by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, sending them to the House of Representatives. Four of the eight bills are led by Vice Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), including one bill that extends the reporting deadline for the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, as well as three bills that will improve delivery of health care services in Alaska Native communities through federal land transfers.
The Senate passed the following bills that were introduced by Senator Murkowski:
S. 325, A bill to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes;
S. 548, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2021;
S. 549, A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Tanana Tribal Council located in Tanana, Alaska, and for other purposes; and
S. 550, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2021.
“I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for advancing these eight Committee bills, including four bills that I introduced. I now hope the House of Representatives will move quickly to consider and approve these measures,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski. “Alaska Native communities, specifically those served by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Tanana Tribal Council, and Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, are seeking to improve their health care services to their communities through this important legislation. Without them, these communities cannot expand or replace outdated health care facilities or have control and ownership over improvements made to their facilities and land while under Department of Health and Human Services title. My fourth bill extends the reporting deadline for the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tribal communities will see better health care services, increased protections for Native children, and more economic development opportunities when Congress passes these eight bills.”
The four additional bills passed by the Senate are:
S. 108, A bill to authorize the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land, and for other purposes;
S. 144, the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access Improvement Act;
S. 314, the Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act; and
S. 559, A bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, and for other purposes.
Murkowski is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
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