Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S.1397, S.3168, S.3308, S.3443, S.3773 & S.3789
Wednesday, March 23 2022 – 02:30 PM
Location: Dirksen
Room Number: 628

Note: Video feed from Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will go live shortly before 2:30pm Eastern.

On Wednesday, March 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. HT, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds legislative hearing to receive testimony on six bills.

S.1397, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021. The bill ensures that tribal health authorities enjoy access to the same public health data as state governments. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.3841, a companion version of the bill, on June 23, 2021.

S.3168, a bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010. The bill ensures that the White Mountain Apache Tribe can utilize its already enacted water rights settlement to complete a water project on the Fort Apache Reservation in the state of Arizona.

S.3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021. The bill ensures that the Colorado River Indian Tribes can utilize its previously ratified water rights from the Colorado River by leasing or allocating them to other entities in Arizona.

S.3443, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Recognition Act. The bill extends federal recognition to the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, a group in Alabama that was previously denied acknowledgement through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

S.3773, a bill to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in the state of Washington. Similar bills have been enacted for other Indian nations.

S.3789, a bill to amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, also known as the NATIVE Act. The NATIVE Act requires federal agencies to update their existing management plans and tourism strategies to include American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

PANEL 1
The Honorable Bryan Newland [TESTIMONY]
Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs
Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Marvin Figueroa [TESTIMONY]
Director, Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Gwendena Lee-Gatewood [TESTIMONY]
Chairwoman
White Mountain Apache Tribe
Whiteriver, Arizona

The Honorable Amelia Flores [TESTIMONY]
Chairwoman
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Parker, Arizona

The Honorable Harry Pickernell, Sr. [TESTIMONY]
Chairman
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Oakville, Washington

The Honorable Lebaron Byrd [TESTIMONY]
Chief
MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians
Mt. Vernon, Alabama

Dr. Darin Prescott [TESTIMONY]
Director Health and Clinic CEO
Lower Sioux Indian Community and Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board
Morton, Minnesota

Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 1397, S. 3168, S. 3308, S. 3443, S. 3773 & S. 3789 (March 23, 2022)