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In summary, legislation regarding Native Americans put forth in the 114th Congress. These are updated monthly, with new bills added as they come online.
New or Recent Actions:
LAW S.501(PL 114-255)--New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act: Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to expand the current authorization for the construction or rehabilitation and operation and maintenance of conjunctive use wells in the San Juan River Basin, Little Colorado River Basin, and Rio Grande Basin in New Mexico to include the planning and design of those wells.
Revises the percentages of funds authorized for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, conjunctive use wells, and San Juan River Irrigation Projects that may be made available for specified purposes by:
- increasing from 2% to 4% the portion of funds that may be used for the survey, recovery, protection, preservation, and display of archaeological resources in the area of a Project facility or conjunctive use well; and
- decreasing from 4% to 2% the portion of funds that may be used for purchasing land and constructing and maintaining facilities to mitigate the loss of, and improve conditions for the propagation of, fish and wildlife.
This bill became Public Law 114-57 on 9/30/2015.
H.R. 538—Native American Clean Energy Act: Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to allow the Department of the Interior, an affected Indian tribe, or a certified third-party appraiser under contract with the Indian tribe to appraise Indian land or trust assets involved in a transaction requiring Interior approval. Deems an appraised approved if Interior fails to respond in 60 days. Gives tribes the option of waiving such appraisals. (Last Action: Placed on Calendar 10/1/2015).
H.R.3599-- Eastern Band Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act: To take certain Federal lands in Tennessee into trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and for other purposes.(Last Action: Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources 9/24/14).
H.R.3487—Respect for Native Americans in Professional Sports Act of 2015: To make the antitrust laws applicable to professional sports leagues that use, or promote or allow member teams or franchisees to use, the term “Redskins” or the term “Redskin”. (Last Action: Introduced in the House 9/10/2015 and Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary).
H.R.872 & S.465--Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2015: To extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe—Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. (Last Action: Subcommittee Hearings Held, House Natural Resources Committee, 9/29/2015 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar 9/10/2015; Senate Report. 114-141).
H.R.286 & S.35— Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2015: Extends federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. Makes the Tribe and each member eligible for all services and benefits provided by the United States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the Tribe or the location of the residence of any member on or near an Indian reservation. (Last Action House: Subcommittee Hearings Held, House Natural Resources Committee, 9/29/2015 | Last Action Senate: S. Report 114-139 and Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar 9/10/2015).
H.R.3477—NATIVE Act: To enhance and integrate Native American tourism, empower Native American communities, increase coordination and collaboration between Federal tourism assets, and expand heritage and cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. (Latest Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs 9/10/2015).
S.209—Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2015: Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Department of the Interior to provide Indian tribes with technical assistance in planning their energy resource development programs. (Last Action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar 9/30/2015 with report No.114-149).
H.R.511 & S.248—Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015: Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its lands is not considered an employer (thus excluding such enterprises or institutions from coverage by such Act). (Last Action: House: Placed on the Union Calendar and H. Report 114-260 9/10/2015 | S. Report 114-140; Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar 9/10/2015)
S.1937--Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act of 2015 : A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to improve nutrition in Tribal areas and for other purposes. (Last Action: 08/04/2015 Introduced and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry).
S.286—Department of the Interior Tribal Self Governance Act of 2015: Amends the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (the Act) to change the Department of the Interior's process for approving self-governance compacts and annual funding agreements with Indian tribes. Modifies Interior's process to make it similar to processes used by the Department of Health and Human Service's Indian Health Service. (Last Action: 08/04/2015 Passed Senate; Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs).
H.R.387--Economic Development Through Tribal Land Exchange Act: A Bill providing for the disposition of four parcels of land in California transferring lands to Morongo Band of Mission Indians. (Last Action: 07/14/2015: Passed House and received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs).
H.R. 3026--Tribal TANF Fairness Act of 2015: This bill amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow a tribal government (including one participating in an intertribal consortium) to lease land held in trust or in fee, at a fair market rate, for the administration of a tribal family assistance grant by the tribal government or the intertribal consortium. (Last Action: Introduced 7/10/2015 Refereed to the House Committee on Ways and Means).
H.R.3166 —Native American Suicide Prevention Act of 2015: To amend section 520E of the Public Health Service Act to require States and their designees receiving grants for development or implementation of statewide suicide early intervention and prevention strategies to consult with each Federally recognized Indian tribe, tribal organization, and urban Indian organization in a State. (last Action: 7/22/2015: introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
S.1771 & H.R. 3080—Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt Indian tribal governments and other tribal entities from the employer health coverage mandate. (Last Action Senate: 7/15/2015: Read Twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Last House Action: NO NEW ACTION 7/15/2015: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means).
H.R.360: & Bill S. 710 Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2015: (Last Action: Senator Barrasso from Senate Committee on Indian Affairs filed S. Report 114-117 on 0/5/2015; 3/24/15 Status: Passed House, received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs; 06/04/2015: Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs pursuant to the order of May 27, 1988 for a period not to exceed 60 days).
H.R. 3043 & S. 1749—Tribal Tax Incentive for Renewable Energy Act of 2015: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow allocation of certain renewable energy tax credits to Indian tribes, and for other purposes. (Last Action: Passed House and received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on indian Affairs 07/14/2015).
H.R. 2174 & S.1163 --Native American Languages Reauthorization Act of 2015: To amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to provide flexibility and reauthorization to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages. (Last Action: Introduced in House and Senate 4/30/2015)
S.Res. 62: A resolution designating the week beginning on February 8, 2015, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" (last action: 2/2/15 Status: passed senate)
H.R. 1168: Native American Children’s Safety Act: (last action: 6/2/15 Status: received in the Senate) House Report: 114-79 [no action since 6/02/2015]
S. 184: Native American Children’s Safety Act: (last action 6/1/15 Status: Passed Senate) Senate Report: 114-37 [No action]
S.246: Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act: (last action: 6/19/15 Status: Passed Senate and referred to the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs) Senate Report: 114-39 [No Action]
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A Few Spots Left, Register Now!
Registration is open now; register here.
The ASU American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) & Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) are excited to announce the upcoming Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program, to be held November 4-6, 2015 at Arizona State University. This professional certificate program for tribal government financial management professionals provides an in-depth background in tribal government finance, Indian law, taxation, and economic development. Attendees can earn up to 20 CPE credits.
Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program Features:
- Principles of federal Indian law and its effect on tribal financial management
- Government accounting standards and principles
- Compliance with the new OMB Uniform Guidance
- Self-determination, self-governance, financial compliance, and record keeping
- Effects of federal, state, and tribal taxation on tribal financial management, including development of a revenue allocation plan
- Best practices for internal controls and procurement policies
- Key tools for developing and managing budgets
- Emerging financial issues in Indian Country
Please do not hesitate to call the American Indian Policy Institute at (480) 965-1055 or email with any questions. Please feel free to share this information!
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AIPI Community Outreach National, Regional, and Local
Fall is always busy at ASU, but in addition to the semester starting for our First Innovations Tribal Entrepreneur class, September was full of activity including an FCC Consumer Advisory Committee Meeting, two tribal consultations, two conferences, and a summit.
The month started with the FCC Office of Native Affairs and Policy partnering with AIPI in presenting a Tribal Nation Training and Consultation Workshop. The topic was Tribal Broadband, Telecom, and Broadcast training. The event was 2.5 days, held September 1-3, 2015 at ASU’s SkySong Innovation Center.
Following that, we participated in a Digital Inclusion Summit in Washington DC on September 9, 2015. This event was hosted by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Speakers included representatives from the White House; the FCC, the U.S. Department of Commerce; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the American Indian Higher Education Consortium; the National Congress of the American Indians; and other experts. AIPI’s Director Traci Morris was one of the closing speakers. To read more about Digital Inclusion and the role of tribal libraries click here.
AIPI also participated in the 2015 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums. This event was held in Washington DC on September 11-12, 2015. Dr. Morris presented a paper at the conference on Chickasaw Language Revitalization through Technology, from a forthcoming publication. If you would like to see the program from the Conference, click here. We were also honored to see the amazing Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations Exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian.
Following these events, AIPI participated in the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) 2015 Fall Finance and Tribal Economies Conference. Held on September 13-15, 2015 in Boston, MA. Dr. Morris moderated a panel Making the Most of Millennials in the Workplace. NAFOA assembled academic experts from Harvard College and University of North Carolina to discuss the Millennial demographic and ways to both market and blend the largest consumer block and workforce into your tribe and enterprises. Our panel was well received, as this seems to be a hot topic right now.
Finally, AIPI closed out the month by co-hosting, along with the Commission on Navajo Government Development, a Navajo Nation Government Reform Listening Session. The Navajo Nation hosted a number of these outreach events in the last month around the greater Phoenix, Arizona area.
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Upcoming Events in Indian Country
Native American Connections Annual Parade | October 10, 2015 | Phoenix, AZ
National Indian Education Association Convention | October 14-17 | Portland, OR
National Congress of American Indians 72nd Annual Convention | October 18-23 | San Diego, CA
Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide International Conference | October 21-22, 2015 | Phoenix, AZ
Tribal Financial Managers Certification Program Fall 2015 Cohort | November 1-3, 2015 | Tempe, AZ
Reservation Economic Summit New Mexico NCAIED | November 16-19, 2015 | Santa Fe, NM
American Indian Excellence in Leadership Awards (Phoenix Indian Center) | November 19, 2015 | Phoenix, AZ
American Indian Science & Engineering Society National Conference | November 19-21 | Phoenix, AZ
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