Senate Indian Affairs Committee to hold field hearing in Alaska

Thursday, August 13, 2015  

The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo from Facebook

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is heading to Alaska for what appears to be the first time in the panel's history

A field hearing takes place next Thursday, August 20, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. The committee will focus on tribal justice issues, including recidivism and tribal courts.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a member and former vice chair of the committee, will run the hearing. In her leadership position on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, she added $10 million for tribal courts in Public Law 280 states, including Alaska, to an appropriations bill that's making its way through the Senate.

The hearing will not be webcast but written testimony will be posted online. The witness list follows:

The Honorable John Coghill
State Senator, Alaska Senate, Fairbanks, AK

Ms. Natasha Singh
General Counsel & Tribal Court Judge, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks, AK

Mr. Greg Razo Vice President, Government Contracting, CIRI, Anchorage, AK

Committee Notice:
Oversight Field Hearing on "Strengthening Alaska Native Families: Examining Recidivism, Reentry, and Tribal Courts in Alaska." (August 20, 2015)

Alaska to recognize tribal domestic violence protection orders (7/31)
Appropriations bill adds $10M for tribal courts in PL280 states (7/1)