The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will host a legislative hearing on S.465, the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, and S.2695, the Parity for Law Enforcement Act on Wednesday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. - EDT.
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, will lead the hearing.
Prior to the legislative hearing, the Committee will hold a business meeting to consider five bills –
- S.616, the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Technical Corrections Act of 2023;
- S.2796, a bill to provide for thee equitable settlement of certain land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes;
- S.2868, a bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that Community, and for other purposes;
- S.3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023; and
- H.R.1240, Winnebago Land Transfer Act of 2023.
Event Details:
WHAT:
Schatz and Murkowski to lead Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing
WITNESSES:
- The Honorable Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Affairs – U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
- The Honorable Mark Macarro, President, National Congress of American Indians, Washington, DC
- Mr. Chris Sutter, Chief of Police, Tulalip Tribal Police Department, Tulalip, WA
WHEN:
TOMORROW, May 1, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. EDT
LIVESTREAM:
Live video of the event will be available here.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Cheyenne River Youth Project Offers a Busy Summer with Clubs, Parties, Internships and More
NTU Men’s Skyhawks Host Competitive Basketball Tryouts
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
