Native American Legislative Update

The November election is almost here! This election will bring new members of Congress to the Hill, along with a new administration in the White House in January 2025.

The period after the election and before the new Congress takes their seats is often referred to as the lame duck period. It is difficult to discern which legislation may make it out of the flurry of activity that follows elections. This month, we are highlighting bills and actions that impact Native communities and may move in the lame duck:

Today, September 30, is Orange Shirt Day, Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On this day, Native communities and allies honor and remember the survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, as well as the children who never returned home. Native communities in Canada have recognized this date as a day of recognition since 2013, and in 2021 Canada formally recognized it as a holiday.

In a bipartisan vote on June 13, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (H.R. 7227) passed the House Education and Workforce Committee 34 to 4. This is a major win for Native American communities, survivors, and their descendants, who were terrorized by these policies for decades. The bill now needs to be approved by two other committees for a floor vote.

In a bipartisan vote on June 13, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (H.R. 7227) passed the House Education and Workforce Committee 34 to 4. This is a major win for Native American communities, survivors, and their descendants, who were terrorized by these policies for decades. The bill now needs to be approved by two other committees for a floor vote.

In a bipartisan vote on June 13, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (H.R. 7227) passed the House Education and Workforce Committee 34 to 4. This is a major win for Native American communities, survivors, and their descendants, who were terrorized by these policies for decades. The bill now needs to be approved by two other committees for a floor vote.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis is ongoing and urgently needs attention from the federal government. During the May hearings of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, hundreds of tribal elected leaders and representatives of Native organizations testified about the need for additional resources for tribal law enforcement.

FCNL is pleased to announce that effective May 28, Rachel Overstreet (Choctaw Nation), will join FCNL full-time as legislative representative for Native American advocacy! We are excited for her to join as a permanent lead lobbyist as our program evolves from the temporary congressional advocate model.

More than 300 young adults joined us for Spring Lobby Weekend to advocate for the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools Policies Act. Advocates met with over 100 offices and secured two new cosponsors – Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12) and Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20). And more offices have expressed an interest in joining the bill! We applaud the powerful voices of our young adult network.

Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Tom Cole (OK-04) reintroduced the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act (H.R. 7227). We are ecstatic about this bill’s reintroduction and are eager to continue to advocate for its passage during our 2024 Spring Lobby Weekend in March.

During the White House Tribal Nations Summit, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced that the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative plans to release the second volume of its investigative report early this year.