Members and staff of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee prepare for business meeting. July 29, 2014. Photo © Indianz.Com

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved seven bills at a business meeting on Wednesday.

There was little discussion on the bills as they were non-controversial. Some minor changes were made to some measures before all were passed in a single voice vote.

The bills are:

• S.1948, the Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act. The bill creates a grant program to support Native language immersion programs. The committee held a hearing on June 18.
• S.2299, the Native American Languages Reauthorization Act. The bill extends a Native language grant program through the end of fiscal year 2019. A hearing was held on June 18.
• S.2442, the Northern Cheyenne Lands Act. The bill requires the Interior Department to place land, mineral rights and important sites into trust for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana. The committee held a hearing on July 9.
• S.2465, the Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act. The bill requires DOI to place land into trust for the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. A hearing was held on on July 9.
• S.2479, the Moapa Band of Paiutes Land Conveyance Act. The bill requires DOI to place land into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians in Nevada. The committee held a hearing on July 9.
• S.2480, the Nevada Native Nations Land Act. The bill requires DOI to place land into trust for seven tribes but an amendment removed one tribe from the original measure. A hearing took place July 9.
• H.R.4002, a bill to allow the Miami Nation to revoke the charter that was approved under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act. The House passed the bill on June 24.

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) is the sponsor of S.2299, the Native American Languages Reauthorization Act. He's also a co-sponsor of S.1948, the Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act.

“Native languages are a link to previous generations and will help preserve Native cultures for future generations,” Johnson said in a press release. “This bill will reauthorize one of the few federal funding opportunities available to tribes and tribal organizations to ensure that Native languages are not lost.”

“Native Languages are vanishing at an alarming rate, and with them the culture, tradition and knowledge that are so important to the future of Indian Country,” added Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), the chairman of the committee. “This bill will not only revitalize Native languages, it will also keep kids in school and lead to greater pride, academic achievement and economic growth in Indian Country.”

The seven measures can now be considered on the Senate floor. H.R.4002, the Miami Nation bill, passed the House in June so it only needs one more vote before it can be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Committee Notices:
Business Meeting to consider the following legislation (July 30, 2014)

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Senate Indian Affairs Committee sets business meeting on bills (7/28)
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