WASHINGTON — Tuesday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. ET, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, will join Committee Chairman John Hoeven (R-N.D.) in leading a business meeting to review several bills affecting Indian Country, including a Udall-cosponsored bill to expand the AMBER Alert warning system in Indian Country by clarifying that all Indian Tribes are eligible for federal grants to law enforcement agencies. The bill comes in response to the tragic abduction and murder of 11-year old Ashlynne Mike on the Navajo Nation in 2016 – when authorities did not issue an AMBER Alert until a day after Ashlynne’s abduction was reported.
The committee will hold a legislative hearing immediately following the business meeting to hear testimony on several measures, including two pieces of legislation concerning Tribal health care and housing (S.1250 and S.1275). A third bill, cosponsored by Udall, to be considered at the hearing would authorize the Tribal Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program to combat veteran homelessness in Indian Country. Native veterans are disproportionately affected by homelessness, and the Tribal HUD-VASH program aims to provide rental assistance, case management, and clinical and supportive services for Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
WHAT: Udall to preside as vice chairman at Senate Committee on Indian Affairs business meeting and legislative hearing
TIME: Approximately 12:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Watch live here.
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