The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing today on S.1696, the Department of Health and Human Services Tribal Self-Governance Amendments Act.

The bill creates a pilot project to expand the number of HHS programs available for self-governance compacts. A group of 50 tribes will be able to take over a wide range of programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Community Services Block Grant Program, the Child Care and Development Fund, and substance abuse and mental health programs.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). The chairman and vice-chairman of the Indian committee, respectively, have introduced a number of bills to expand self-determination and self-governance.

The witness list for the hearing includes HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, who has appeared before the committee once in the past. Several tribal leaders will also testify.

The hearing, which starts at 10 a.m., will be preceded by a business committee meeting on two bills. A video feed should be available at http://indian.senate.gov.

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