Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the chairman of the House Subcommittee Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. Photo from Rep. Don Young
More than two months into the 114th Congress, the new House Subcommittee Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs held its first hearing this afternoon. Obama administration officials presented testimony on the fiscal year 2016 budget requests for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. But since the subcommittee has a new area of jurisdiction, the Interior Department official who oversees the Office of Insular Affairs also appeared at the hearing. Lawmakers had a lot of questions for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn. But the Democrats from the U.S. territories also had a lot for Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia'aina so the question and answer period for the first panel ran a little over an hour. Overall, the hearing lasted about an hour and 37 minutes. Audio can found on the Indianz.Com SoundCloud.
Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Funding Priorities for and the United States' Responsibilities concerning Indians, Alaska Natives, and Insular Areas in the President's FY 2016 Budget Request for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, Office of Insular Affairs, and Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians." (March 18, 2015)
Related Stories
New House subcommittee on
Indian issues to hold first hearing (03/09) House committee won't restore Indian and Alaska Native panel (01/28)
House Natural Resources Committee set to hold first meeting (1/27)
Join the Conversation
