Senate Committee on Indian Affairs schedules oversight hearing

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Monday, December 7, 2020

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The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold an oversight hearing this week as the clock runs out on the 116th Congress.

The hearing on Wednesday is titled “From Languages to Homelands: Advancing Tribal Self-Governance and Cultural Sovereignty for Future Generations.” It will focus on self-governance and sovereignty.

The hearing takes place at 2:30pm Eastern in Room 628 of Dirksen Senate Office Building. Witnesses will appear virtually:

THE HONORABLE BRIAN VALLO
Governor
Pueblo of Acoma
Acoma, New Mexico

THE HONORABLE KIRK FRANCIS
President
United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund
Nashville, Tennessee

MR. JOHN ECHOHAWK
Executive Director
Native American Rights Fund
Boulder, Colorado

The hearing is the first since the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate returned to work following the November election. It will likely be the last before the 116th session of Congress closes later this month.

The committee held a post-election business meeting on November 18. Four bills were advanced at the gathering.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) has served as chairman of the panel during the 116th Congress, which began in January 2019. Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) has been the vice chair.

Hoeven is expected to step down from the leadership role during the next session of Congress. Udall is retiring so he will no longer be in the Senate.

A new chair and vice chair are due to be selected in the 117th Congress, which begins in January 2021. According to Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), he and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are in line to lead the committee for the upcoming session.

Republicans currently hold 52 seats in the Senate while Democrats hold 48. The chamber’s final makeup of the 117th session won’t be known until voters decide two races in Georgia.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice

From Languages to Homelands: Advancing Tribal Self-Governance and Cultural Sovereignty for Future Generations (December 9, 2020)