BIA announces approval of four tribal HEARTH Act applications

Thursday, April 10, 2014  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs announced approvals of four more applications under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH) Act.

The law gives tribes greater control over the development of their lands. They won't have to ask the BIA to review every single lease now that their HEARTH Act regulations have been approved.

“Tribal governments are the drivers of economic self-sufficiency and prosperity on their reservations and in their communities," Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the BIA, said in a press release. "The HEARTH Act restores their ability to directly control how their lands can and should be used for the good of their people, now and in the future.”

Approvals went to the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in California, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Washington, the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in Oklahoma. That brings the total number of HEARTH Act approvals to 12.

Congress enacted H.R.205, the HEARTH Act, in 2012.