Recap: Tara Sweeney confirmation hearing as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs

Wednesday, May 9, 2018  

After a long wait, Tara Sweeney finally got her day on Capitol Hill. The Native corporate executive, who hails from an Inupiat village on the northern slope of Alaska, went before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday afternoon to share her story.

"I believe in self-determination," Sweeney told lawmakers at her confirmation hearing to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.

If confirmed to the post, Sweeney would oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. Though most of her experience lies in Alaska, where she serves as vice president for the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and on the board of the Alaska Federation of Natives, she vowed to represent all of Indian Country.

"For those who may fear that I am too Alaska-centric or I don’t have lower 48 experience, I want to dispel that myth," Sweeney testified. "I am committed to working very hard for Indian Country ... and for Native self-determination, regardless of geography."

The hearing, which started around 4pm Eastern, lasted about 2 hours, during which Sweeney fielded questions about a slew of pressing issues -- including harassment. An internal study showed that employees at the BIA reported the highest rates of harassment within the Department of the Interior. The director of the BIA, a career-level position, recently resigned after being accused of harassing a female subordinate, as Indianz.Com first reported last month.

"I have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment," Sweeney said. "No employee should ever fear coming to work because of harassment."

The next step in the process would be for the committee to hold a business meeting on Sweeney's nomination. Assuming she is approved, she would then need a final vote on the Senate floor before she can take over the BIA.

Twitter Recap

Missed the hearing? You can watch the whole thing or catch up quickly with our Twitter recap!

People are lining up for the confirmation hearing of Tara Sweeney to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Join us at 4pm Eastern (12pm in Alaska) for some tweets! pic.twitter.com/kDR4wY9K7X

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney has two pages of written testimony to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The Alaska Native executive has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Confirmation hearing at 4pm Eastern (12pm in Alaska). Join us live for some tweets! pic.twitter.com/yVw7ChTxpq

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney has arrived! The Alaska Native executive has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Confirmation hearing at 4pm Eastern (12pm in Alaska). Join us for some tweets! pic.twitter.com/UkNFfyFVfW

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

The confirmation hearing has started! Tara Sweeney (Inupiat from Alaska) has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Opening remarks by Sen John Hoeven (R-ND) highlight Sweeney’s role as an executive for her Alaska Native corporation pic.twitter.com/ANeRyfxCMu

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) is "encouraged" by Tara Sweeney's business background and "deep connection" to her Inupiat community in Alaska. "Thank you Ms. Sweeney for answering the call to serve," he said. Vows to move nomination in "timely manner" because position has been vacant pic.twitter.com/vW3Hqm12Li

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): "I'm just bursting with pride." Calls Tara Sweeney a "strong, strong female Native leader, ready to take charge. Believe me, we need someone to take charge in the BIA." Top position at Bureau of Indian Affairs has been vacant for more than two years pic.twitter.com/IN45gqFB24

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) wants Tara Sweeney to "fight" for Indian Country, citing long-standing budget, law enforcement, economic development, land-into-trust and other needs. “We’re going to need somebody tough” to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he said. pic.twitter.com/eIR5wjV9GO

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) tells Tara Sweeney: "We are going to hold you accountable" if she is confirmed as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Position has been vacant for more than two years. pic.twitter.com/s9i5kkj59h

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) is introducing Tara Sweeney to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "Tara is a proud Inupiat," he said. Her Native community is in northern Alaska and is currently in the midst of whaling season, he noted. pic.twitter.com/Vcqog81oBq

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney has been sworn in (under oath) and is introducing family and friends as she testifies before Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Sweeney, who is Inupiat from Alaska, has been nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs--position vacant for 2+ years pic.twitter.com/wYCeIlBV1u

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney tells Senate Committee on Indian Affairs: "I am honored to leave my homeland for a short time to engage in public service, but perhaps most important, to support tribal nations, tribal corporations, and our tribal people all across the country." pic.twitter.com/5ucZ3TqqRl

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney plans to spend first 180 days consulting Indian Country to learn their priorities if confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. "One cannot paint Indian Country with a single stroke," she said. Full Statement Here: https://t.co/fF6snZHkYf pic.twitter.com/fYDDcKOYSW

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Members of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs are now asking Tara Sweeney questions about her priorities and other Indian issues. Vows to consult tribes before taking action on issues like schools and opioids pic.twitter.com/YrI3UIeqML

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. John Hoeven (D-ND), chairman of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, asked about infrastructure in Indian Country, the opioid crisis and child safety. pic.twitter.com/7X40oFtCEV

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), vice chair of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, asks if Tara Sweeney will recuse herself from matters affecting Arctic Slope Regional Corp, her Native corporation. Yes, she replied. "It's the right thing to do." pic.twitter.com/blHUgpb9vl

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) says BIA is "in complete disarray. The BIA director just resigned under a cloud of suspicion." 8 of 12 regional directors are temporary, he added. Tara Sweeney vows to bring management expertise if confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs pic.twitter.com/ORyxksZdQT

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) asked about recusals, energy development, importance of Chaco Canyon to tribes in New Mexico and regional directors at Bureau of Indian Affairs

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also concerned about "allegedly widespread harassment" at BIA. https://t.co/0yYFAWzrcJ was first to report why Bryan Rice was under scrutiny--accused of harassing female employee. "We really do need you to shake it up," Murkowski said #MeToo #TimesUp pic.twitter.com/bQNA18neon

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney on her credentials: "For those who may fear that I am too Alaska-centric or I don’t have lower 48 experience, I want to dispel that myth.
I am committed to working very hard for Indian Country ... and for Native self-determination, regardless of geography” pic.twitter.com/RKcZqTdPGc

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) seeks commitments from Tara Sweeney to address law enforcement on reservations in Montana and to look at federal recognition for Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. "it's been a mess," he said of the tribe's long-pending petition. pic.twitter.com/1kUBxbwYCr

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

In response to Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), Tara Sweeney vows to look at "gaps in tribal authority” when it comes to jurisdiction over non-Indians and others. Smith also noted that Native women and men face high rates of sexual violence, particularly in Minnesota pic.twitter.com/0iLh6kl6Xf

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

In response to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tara Sweeney reaffirms recusal from matters affecting Arctic Slope Regional Corp., her Native corporation. Pressed further, she vows not to seek waivers in the future. "No. I will not be seeking a waiver,” Sweeney said pic.twitter.com/AKOlQyO9oi

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) asks about land-into-trust. "I am committed to working within the law and I am also committed to working with tribal leaders,” Tara Sweeney said. Cantwell calls land-into-trust an "important economic development tool" for tribes in Washington. pic.twitter.com/c2n8EINNth

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) notes that Bureau of Indian Affairs "actually suffers from the highest rates of harassment of any agency within the Department of the Interior." Asks Tara Sweeney what she will do to combat sexual harassment. pic.twitter.com/SCVfyPVwno

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Tara Sweeney tells Senate Committee on Indian Affairs: "I have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment. No employee should ever fear coming to work because of harassment." pic.twitter.com/1GZb24uUW4

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) also asked about Bureau of Indian Affairs case workers failing to show up to proceedings in Crow Nation court and about improved protections for Native children.

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) asks about 477 job training and employment program that recently became permanent with new law. "I am absolutely committed to innovative solutions for workforce development," Tara Sweeney said. Alaska tribes were among first to participate in 477 pic.twitter.com/AgI5QhmnYA

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

In response to Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Tara Sweeney vows to be an advocate for the trust and treaty responsibility within the Trump administration. "If we have to educate other departments about Indian Country .. I am more than willing to do that." pic.twitter.com/SJMZDV6yDM

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NEV) asks about reorganization at Department of the Interior. "I have not been briefed on the reorganization,” Tara Sweeney said in response but vows to “engage in meaningful consultation” with tribes. Indian Country knows little about reorg so far pic.twitter.com/TIgr4okuNQ

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) discusses the need to work together on Indian issues: “These issues are so bipartisan. It's not Republican, it's not Democrat. It's about trying to find the right solutions for our Native people." pic.twitter.com/jcXE2nUzQs

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

That’s all folks! Tara Sweeney survived her confirmation hearing as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Next step is to be voted by Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Then a vote on Senate floor pic.twitter.com/Lsfy472bKK

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shares a moment with Tara Sweeney. Murkowski is hoping to move Sweeney’s nomination as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs as soon as possible pic.twitter.com/O1EbZuMEjW

— indianz.com (@indianz) May 9, 2018