Members of Congress return to work today after the holiday break.

The first order of business in the Senate is passage of the omnibus appropriations bill. The massive $328 billion package includes provisions that change the way Alaska Native tribes receive federal law enforcement funds.

Other priorities include the transportation reauthorization, an important bill for Indian Country roads. Republicans may also try to revive the energy policy legislation that limits the Department of Interior's involvement in energy projects on Indian land.

Last year, the House and Senate considered a number of Indian-related bills although few major pieces made it into law. These included a trust reform probate act and amendments to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Get the Story:
Congress Reconvenes Tuesday To Open Election-Year Session (The Denver Post 1/18)
Holiday Over, Congress Braces for Partisan Year (The New York Times 1/19)
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Related Stories:
Indian gaming bill held up due to Senate dispute (11/14)
Senate Indian Affairs to discuss bills (11/13)
Congress debates resolution of trust fund case (10/30)
Tribes back improvements in probate reform bill (10/16)
Campbell cites pressure facing Indian gaming industry (08/05)