The mouth of the San Luis Rey River in southern California. Photo by Philip Erdelsky via Wikipedia
The House Natural Resources Committee approved four Indian bills at a markup session that concluded on Wednesday. All of the bills passed by unanimous consent and were non-controversial. Except for H.R.2538, the Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act, there was little discussion by the committee on the measures. The list of bills approved follows:
• H.R.812, the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act. The bill trust management practices at the Interior Department, authorizes a new Under Secretary for Indian Affairs to oversee all Indian programs at DOI and orders a report to prepare for the transition of duties from the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The House Subcommittee Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs took testimony on the bill on April 14, 2015, and the Obama administration said it was opposed to the measure.The bills can now be considered on the House floor. Committee Notices:
• H.R.1296, a bill to amend the San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, a law that settled the water rights of five tribes in southern California. The House Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a hearing on the bill on October 26, 2015. The tribes and the Obama administration support the measure in order to finalize a settlement reached in 1988.
• H.R.2538, the Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act. The bill places about 940 acres in trust for the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians in California. The tribe has reached an agreement with Sonoma County to address land use, taxation and other issues but some local residents have raised questions about the measure. A hearing took place on June 17, 2015.
• H.R.3079, a bill to place about 80 acres trust for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians in California. The House Subcommittee Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs took testimony on the measure on November 4, 2015. The Obama administration supports the bill.
Full Committee Markup on 18 Bills (February 2, 2016)
Full Committee Markup on 18 Bills (February 3, 2016)
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