Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Politics
Senate Indian Affairs Committee meeting


The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a business meeting this morning to vote on four pieces of legislation.

Of the three bills on the agenda, S 2078, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Amendments is the most controversial. It would make major changes to the $20 billion tribal casino industry by beefing up the powers of the National Indian Gaming Commission and limiting off-reservation casinos.

Tribal and Indian gaming leaders are opposing the bill. They say it will hurt efforts to make tribes more self-sufficient.

The other bills on the agenda are: S.1899, Reauthorization of the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act; S.2245, Indian Youth Tele-Mental Health Demonstration Project Act; and S. 1773, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso Claims Settlement Act.

The meeting starts at 9:30am in Room 485 of the Senate Russell Office Building. Committee meetings aren't usually broadcast on the Internet.

Relevant Links:
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov

Related Stories:
BIA sets meetings for Section 20 regulations (3/28)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee schedule (3/27)
Tribal leaders oppose McCain on overhaul of IGRA (3/23)
Off-reservation casino sites still in question (3/16)
Listening Lounge: Hearing on off-reservation gaming (3/15)
Gaming hearing highlights rift between tribes, McCain (3/10)
BIA sets timetable for new gaming regulations (03/01)
Senate panel presses BIA on gaming regulations (02/02)
BIA takes stab at land-into-trust for gaming rules (2/1)
Witness list for hearing on off-reservation gaming (1/31)
Senate panel delves into gaming again for 2006 (01/25)
Lobbying reform, gaming high on Congressional agenda (01/20)
Appeals court sides with tribe in trust land dispute (01/09)
IGRA amendments tough on many, especially tribes (12/12)
Oklahoma tribe hires ex-BIA official to lobby for land (12/01)
McCain proposes major amendments to IGRA (11/30)
NIGC adopts new approach for tribal gaming sites (11/14)
Tribes dispute local power over trust land decisions (11/10)
DOJ releases proposed changes to Indian gaming law (10/06)
DOJ gaming proposal shows changes to Johnson Act (10/05)
BIA official revives off-reservation land regulations (09/21)
DOJ proposes major change in Indian gaming law (09/16)
Gaming clouds already lengthy land-into-trust process (09/15)
Oklahoma tribe plans state's largest gaming facility (08/02)
NIGC develops system to track Indian lands (07/28)
Perception and realities in land-into-trust debate (05/19)
Land into trust to be examined at Senate hearing (5/10)
Land-into-trust problems aired at Senate hearing (4/28)
Update: Senate hearing on Indian gaming (04/27)
BIA backs bill to delay off-reservation casino (04/06)
Off-reservation casinos a concern at gaming summit (03/30)
Bush stance on off-reservation gaming unknown (03/29)
Exceptions to IGRA more common than often cited (03/21)
Off-reservation casino dropped as debate continues (03/21)
Off-reservation gaming hearing set by Pombo (3/15)
Agencies still in conflict over off-reservation gaming (12/07)
McCaleb calls Chickasaws savvy, not deceptive (10/26)
Official tells Chickasaw land-into-trust tactics (10/25)
Cole says Chickasaw Nation made promises on land (09/16)
BIA approves compact for gaming on former reservation (03/25)
Chickasaw Nation land purchases quadruple (03/23)
Hogen says Okla. tribes skirting federal gaming law (05/19)
Indian gaming law not always followed (5/14)
Okla. tribe leaps over Indian gaming hurdles (04/23)
Chickasaw Nation 'followed the law' (6/28)
Tribe's land approvals questioned (6/11)