For Immediate Release
October 3, 2024
Contact:
Mike Inacay (Schatz) at press@indian.senate.gov
Hannah Ray (Murkowski) at hannah_ray@indian.senate.gov
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Committee Passage of Three Bills, Hold Legislative Hearing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led Committee passage of the following bills at a business meeting:
- S.465, BADGES for Native Communities Act;
- S.2908, Indian Buffalo Management Act; and
- S.4370, Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024.
Following the business meeting, the Committee held a legislative hearing on S.4444, Crow Revenue Act, S.4633, Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, S.4643, Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, S.4705, Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024, and S.4998, Navajo Nation Rio San Jose Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland from the Department of the Interior, Crow Tribe Chairman Frank White Clay, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Hopi Tribe Chairman Timothy L. Nuvangyaoma, San Juan Southern Paiute Vice President Johnny Lehi, Jr., Pueblo of Zuni Governor Arden Kucate, and Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis testified.
“The Committee plays a critical role in securing Indian water rights, and has made unprecedented efforts this Congress, advancing twelve bills on behalf of over twenty Tribes,” said Chairman Schatz. “I’m proud of our work to bring four more settlement bills one step closer to enactment.”
“This legislative hearing helped us all better understand each of the bills discussed today – all of which would address longstanding water and lands issues while also promoting tribal self-determination in water resources, housing, and tribal energy sovereignty. I commend and thank the parties who have put so much work behind these bills,” said Vice Chair Murkowski. “I’m also proud that my bill, S. 4370, the Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024, was passed favorably out of Committee during today’s Business Meeting. This takes us one step closer to promoting greater Indigenous stewardship of Federal and Indian forest and rangelands.”
The Committee will continue to accept written comments on the bills until October 23, 2024. Comments may be submitted to testimony@indian.senate.gov.
The full video of the business meeting and legislative hearing is available here.
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