Facebook Twitter Email
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2002

The House Resources Committee will hear testimony on three Indian policy bills.

The most significant is the Native American Sacred Lands Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), the panel's ranking member. The bill would give tribes the ability to seek protection of sacred sites on federal lands. It would also enforce as law a presidential executive order on sacred sites.

The second is a bill to provide $8 million in grants to local governments seeking to participate in the federal recognition, land claim, land-into-trust and other Indian processes. The money will not be made available to petitioning groups and the the bill's language is not specific enough to allow tribal governments to receive grants.

The third is a bill to recognize six Virginia tribes, which are among the oldest state-recognized tribes in the nation.

The hearing starts at 10 a.m. A live audio feed is available at http://resourcesaudio.house.gov/1324.

Get the Story:
Simmons to seek aid for towns dealing with tribes (The Norwich Bulletin 9/25)

Get the Bills:
H.R. 992, to provide grants to local governments to assist such local governments in participating in certain decisions related to certain Indian groups and Indian tribes; H.R. 2345, to extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahanoock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Tribe, and the Nanasemond Tribe; and H.R. 5155, to protect sacred Native American federal lands from significant damage

Relevant Documents:
Witness List

Relevant Links:
House Resources Committee - http://resourcescommittee.house.gov

Related Stories:
Bill seeks to empower tribes (7/19)