WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.
DOJ Releases OVW Tribal Consultation Summary Report (January 2026)
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) released its report on the “20th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation” that was held on January 21-22, 2026, at the Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
A total of 39 Tribal leaders and designees representing 28 Tribes provided testimony during the Tribal consultation, including two pre-recorded presentations.
The report summarizes their testimony, beginning with the National Congress of American Indians Violence Against Women Task Force and followed by Tribal testimony presented alphabetically by Tribe and speaker. It also incorporates written comments submitted by some participants and includes summaries of pre-recorded or written testimony from an additional 17 Tribes.
Albuquerque Indian School Land Trust Bill Advances in Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025, legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) that would place three tracts of land from the former Albuquerque Indian School campus into trust for the benefit of New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos.
The bill, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), also received a hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs as it advances through Congress.
The Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025 builds upon a longstanding, bipartisan effort to transfer the former Albuquerque Indian School campus and surrounding tracts to the 19 Pueblos in New Mexico for the development and growth of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a nationally recognized museum and cultural institution owned and operated by the Pueblos, dedicated to both preserving and perpetuating pueblo history, culture, and art, while facilitating their future economic growth and long-term economic sustainability.
The text of the bill is here.
‘CMS Releases Medicaid Guidance, Highlights Protections for Tribal Beneficiaries Under H.R. 1
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued draft implementation guidance to help states carry out Medicaid changes enacted under H.R. 1, while reaffirming exemptions for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people and individuals eligible for services through Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban Indian health facilities.
Congress included the exemptions in recognition of the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities and Medicaid’s critical role in supporting Tribal health care. The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has released an initial analysis of the guidance and said it will continue monitoring implementation to ensure Tribal protections are upheld.
CMS is accepting public comments on the Interim Final Rule through July 31, 2026, via Regulations.gov and by mail.
