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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002

A House panel held a hearing on Thursday to focus on the federal recognition process at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb testified for the BIA. He noted the length and intensity of the review process for a petitioning group, which can take years.

An official from the General Accounting Office also testified. Last fall, the GAO released a report stating that there aren't clear standards on how a tribe is recognized

The hearing, before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs, was arranged to address how to make changes to the process. Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) has authored a reform bill and appeared before the committee.

Get the Story:
Simmons pushes for BIA reform (Gannett News Service 2/8)
Tribal issues touches Shays (The New Haven Register 2/8)
Indian Agency Struggling With Recognition (The Hartford Courant 2/8)
State's congressmen claim Indian Bureau needs help (The Waterbury Republican-American 2/8)
BIA official says Indian recognition problems are getting worse (AP 2/7)

Get Recognition Bills:
Rep. Simmons (H.R.3548 )
Rep. Faleomavaega (H.R.1175)
Sen. Campbell (S.504)
Sen. Dodd (S.1392)

Relevant Links:
Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs subcommittee - http://www.house.gov/reform/reg/index.htm
Rep. Rob Simmons - http://www.house.gov/simmons
Branch of Acknowledgment and Research - http://www.doi.gov/bia/ack_res.html

Related Stories:
Conn. AG wants more state input (2/1)
Recognition hearing next week (1/29)
Editorial: Praise on recognition push (1/28)
Hearings on recognition bill planned (1/16)