INDIANZ.COM LISTENING LOUNGE Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on S. 1080, H.R. 2120, S. 2494, H.R. 2963 and S. 531. • Opening Statements • Testimony Part 1 | Q&A Part 1 • Testimony Part 2 | Q&A Part 2 • Webcast | Written Testimony

The Bureau of Indian Affairs testified against a bill that seeks to stem fractionation of Indian lands on the Crow Reservation in Montana.

S. 1080, the Crow Tribe Land Restoration Act, would authorize $380 million in loans to help tribal members buy fractionated interests. Crow Tribe Chairman Carl Venne said fractionation is a major problem on the reservation.

BIA Director Jerry Gidner acknowledged the extent of the problem but questioned the details of the bill. He told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that the Bush administration had concerns about the loan amount, the length of the program and the issue of appraisals.

Venne said he has personally worked on the bill with associate deputy secretary Jim Cason.

Get the Story:
BIA objects to Crow land plan (AP 5/16)

Related Stories:
Indian Affairs Committee hearing on five bills (5/15)