Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) speaks at the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's first business meeting and hearing of the 114th Congress on January 28. Also pictured, from left to right: Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota). Photo by Indianz.Com

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has scheduled a business meeting and oversight hearing on Wednesday.

The business meeting focuses on four bills that were approved by the committee during the last session of Congress. The agenda follows:

• S.184, the Native American Children's Safety Act. The bill amends the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act to require background checks before foster care placements are ordered in tribal court proceedings.
• S.209, the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments. The bill streamlines the review and approval process for tribal energy agreements at the Interior Department.
• S.246, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act. The bill sets up a commission to study issues affecting American Indian and Alaska Native youth.
• S.286, a bill to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to improve the self-governance compacting process.

The business meeting takes place at 2:30pm in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. It will not webcast, according to the committee.

The meeting will immediately followed by a hearing on loan leveraging in Indian Country. The witness list follows:

Ms. Sami Jo Difuntorum
Chairwoman-National American Indian Housing Council

Ms. Carol Gore
President/CEO-Cook Inlet Housing Authority

Mr. Robert Gauthier
Administrator-United Native American Housing Association

The hearing will be webcast.

Committee Notices:
Business Meeting to Consider S. 184, S. 209, S. 246 and S. 286 (February 4, 2014)
Oversight Hearing on "Loan Leveraging in Indian Country." (February 4, 2014)

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