WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, praised Congress’ passage of two bills for tribes in Oregon:
· S. 817, a bill to provide for the addition of certain real property to the reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the state of Oregon; and
· S. 818, a bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.
“Congress is working on behalf of tribes,” said Barrasso. “These pieces of legislation, along with the others we have passed during the 114th Congress, demonstrate our continued commitment to increased tribal self-determination and sovereignty.”
Both bills were introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Both bills passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Nov. 18, 2015 and then passed the full Senate on July 14, 2016. The House of Representatives passed the bills on Dec. 6, 2016.
Including these two, a total of 13 bills, that were passed by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, have been sent to the president to be signed into law during this Congress. The committee has also secured the inclusion of several key provisions to the highway and education laws, on behalf of tribal communities.
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