For Immediate Release
May 28, 2021
Contact:
Manu Tupper or Mike Inacay (Schatz) at press@indian.senate.gov
SCHATZ: BIPARTISAN CARCIERI FIX BILL HONORS TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, PROTECTS TRIBAL LANDS
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement upon introduction of bipartisan Senate legislation to reaffirm the Interior Secretary’s authority to take land into trust for Indian Tribes. The bill would effectively overturn the Supreme Court’s 2009 decision in Carcieri v. Salazar.
“Taking land into trust is a critical component of the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal nations,” said Chairman Schatz. “Since the Carcieri decision, Tribes’ ability to rebuild and protect their homelands and promote economic development on those lands has suffered. The Supreme Court’s misguided decision has also increased litigation and created major delays in getting infrastructure projects off the ground. Congress must act to right this wrong. This bipartisan bill does just that, so I look forward to holding a hearing in the Indian Affairs Committee.”
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