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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2002

The House Government Affairs Committee will hold a hearing next month on legislative efforts to reform the federal recognition process, Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) told The Norwich Bulletin.

Simmons says he will testify at the hearing, for which he said a date has not been set. He is pushing legislation to prevent the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs from overstepping the recommendation of the staff which processes recognition petitions.

Simmons also wants to double the money available to the Bureau of Acknowledgment and Research staff from $900,000 to $1.8 million. Currently, about a dozen people work for the BAR.

Other bills seek to codify the regulations that already exist. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) is still floating a proposal to create an independent recognition commission, supported by former Assistant Secretary Kevin Gover before he left office but opposed by current BIA Chief Neal McCaleb.

Get the Story:
Hearings to reform recognition process set (The Norwich Bulletin 1/16)

Get Recognition Bills:
Rep. Simmons (H.R.3548 )
Rep. Faleomavaega (H.R.1175)
Sen. Campbell (S.504)
Sen. Dodd (S.1392)

Relevant Links:
Rep. Rob Simmons - http://www.house.gov/simmons
Branch of Acknowledgment and Research - http://www.doi.gov/bia/ack_res.html

Related Stories:
Gover and frequent critic agree on recognition (11/19)
Solutions sought for 'hijacked' recognition (11/9)
Simmons wants BIA 'cooling off' period (11/6)
Anderson supports independent recognition (11/6)
NEW: Federal recognition report (11/5)
Gover: Recognition study 'cooked' (11/1)
Bush administration moving carefully on recognition (10/26)
Gover takes on federal recognition (10/25)