Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota). Photo from Senate Indian Affairs Committee

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved S.1622, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act, at a business meeting on Wednesday.

The bill creates a national commission to study issues affecting American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), the sponsor, will push for it to become law.

For far too long, we have tiptoed around engaging in an honest conversation about the incredible challenges kids face in Indian Country,” Heitkamp said in a press release. “But today, we carved a path forward by overwhelmingly advancing my bipartisan legislation that stands up for them – because supporting Native families and children should be an issue all sides can agree on."

The bill has 28 co-sponsors and has support from members of both parties. It can now be sent to the Senate floor.

Get the Story:
Senate to vote on Indian children’s commission (The Grand Forks Herald 5/22)

Committee Notice:
Business Meeting to consider the following legislation (May 21, 2014)

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