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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2001

In response to a Congressional report released on Monday, Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) is proposing a "cooling off" period at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

No BIA official should be allowed to appear before the agency one year after they depart, said Simmons. The policy would help improve the federal recognition process, he said.

Former Assistant Secretary Kevin Gover and his deputy Michael Anderson have come under fire for taking jobs at law and lobbying firms that have tribal clients. Both are already barred forever from representing any client or appearing before the Interior on any matter for which they had involvement.

Both are also prohibited from representing non-federally recognized clients for a year.

Simmons is also proposing to double the budget of the staff that handles federal recognition from $900,000 to $1.8 million.

Get the Story:
Simmons proposes recognition plan (The Norwich Bulletin 11/6)

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