Michael L. Connor, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

The Obama administration is holding a media call tomorrow to discuss the next steps for the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations.

Deputy Secretary Michael Connor, the second-highest ranking official at the Interior Department, and Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will participate in the call tomorrow afternoon. They will discuss the implementation plan from now through the end of calendar year 2015.

The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement authorized $1.9 billion for land consolidation. The program is entirely voluntary and any interests that are acquired are returned to tribal governments.

So far, DOI has extended more than $100 million in offers to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Makah Nation. Members of Congress say the administration has moved too slowly and hasn't worked closely enough with more tribes to implement the program.

Related Stories:
DOI extends $1.6M buyback offers for Makah Nation landowners (05/09)
DOI to hold listening session on Cobell land buy-back program (04/30)
DOI looks to spend $2.55M on Makah Nation land buy-back (04/21)
Ten reservations account for biggest share of Cobell buyback (04/17)
DOI extends $1.2M in offers to Makah Reservation landowners (04/15)
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate reach agreement for Cobell buy-back (04/08)
Rep. Young open to an extension for Cobell buy-back program (4/4)
Audio from House subcommittee hearing on Cobell land buyback (4/3)
Larry Roberts: Answers about the Cobell land buy-back program (4/3)
DOI makes transfer of nearly $580K into Cobell scholarship fund (4/2)
Members of Oglala Sioux Tribe respond to Cobell buyback offers (3/28)
House subcommittee to hold hearing on land buy-back program (03/24)
DOI land buy-back boosts economy on Pine Ridge Reservation (03/19)
DOI announces $100M in land offers on Pine Ridge Reservation (3/18)
Deadline approaches for first Cobell land consolidation offers (1/27)