A transition in power took place as Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) officially became chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on February 5, 2025.

During the committee’s first meeting of the 119th Congress, Murkowski thanked Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) for his leadership. Schatz served as chair of the legislative panel with jurisdiction over Indian issues for the last four years.

“ You had a great run as chair and the committee did good things,” Murkowski said at the organizational meeting in the nation’s capital.

“I think you ran the committee as a real partnership and the bipartisan cooperation that we saw is exactly what we need to do to accomplish some big things,” Murkowski continued.

“And we did some big things — whether it was VAWA 2022, the tribal title, the historic investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — the committee really helped lead the way in that,” Murkowski said in reference to a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that expanded recognition of tribal sovereignty and an infrastructure package that brought billions of dollars to Indian Country.

During the meeting, Murkowski provided Schatz with a gift. It was a framed gavel and a photo of the committee.

 ”One of the best things about the last four years has been our partnership,” said Schatz, who is now serving as vice chair of the committee.

“We share a lot of the same values, not all of the same views, but all of the same values,” said Schatz.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Rules of Procedure [See Highlighted Title]
S.Res.60: AuthorIzing Expenditures by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs [See Highlighted Title]

Organizational Business Meeting (February 5, 2025)