No House Indian Affairs Committee for now

Friday, January 5, 2007  

There will be no House Indian Affairs Committee in the foreseeable future, Indian Country Today reports.

Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Michigan) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) advocated for the creation of the committee. But Democrats didn't want to take up the issue as they transition into power for the first time in 12 years, sources told the paper.

Also, the Democratic staff director for the House Resources Committee said no tribes approached Rep. Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia) about the issue. Only Tex Hall, the chairman of the Inter-Tribal Economic Alliance, came to support the idea, the staffer said.

In the 110th Congress, the Resources committee will remain the primary committee with jurisdiction over Indian issues.

Get the Story:
House Indian committee hopes sink under disputes (Indian Country Today 1/5)

Related Stories:
Election ushers in major change for nation (11/8)