Indianz.Com > News > Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sets business meeting and hearing
Note: Video feed from the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will begin shortly before 2:30pm Eastern.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sets business meeting and hearing
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Indianz.Com

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is meeting to advance more pro-tribal legislation and to hear about water needs in Native communities.

The committee is holding a business meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Two bills are on the agenda:

S.421, the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2021. The bill seeks to improve water quality and services for tribal communities in Oregon and in other states.

S.789, the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act. The bipartisan bill repeals outdated racist and discriminatory laws that were imposed on tribes and their citizens.

Prior version of both pieces of legislation were advanced by the committee during the last session of Congress. After the new bills are approved, they can be sent to the full U.S. Senate for possible passage.

scia
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), left on the dais, and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) take part in a business meeting and roundtable of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on March 14, 2021. Murkowski serves as vice chair of the committee and Schatz serves as chair. Photo: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Immediately following the meeting, the committee will go into an oversight hearing titled “Build Back Better: Water Infrastructure Needs for Native Communities.” The witness list follows:

The Honorable Raymond Tsumpti – Testimony
Chairman
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Warm Springs, Oregon

The Honorable Amelia Flores – Testimony
Chairwoman
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Parker, Arizona

The Honorable Valerie Nurr’Araaluk Davidson – Testimony
Interim President
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Anchorage, Alaska

Mr. Jason John – Testimony
Director
Navajo Department of Water Resources
Navajo Nation
Ft. Defiance, Arizona

The business meeting and oversight hearing will be streamed at indian.senate.gov.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice
Business Meeting to consider S. 421, S. 789 & Oversight Hearing “Build Back Better: Water Infrastructure Needs for Native Communities” (March 24, 2021)
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