Public Law 959, known as the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, was enacted on August 3, 1956. The National Archives has assembled an excellent online guide to BIA urban relocation records, including the original statute, federal relocation promotional materials, field office records, case files, and records from the relocation offices including the Chicago relocation office for folks interested in Great Lakes relocation history.
Who really decides what statutes say? Most Americans think that special interests play an outsized role in our lawmaking processes. Yet empirical studies have produced little evidence that special interests get everything, or even most of, what they ask for from Congress. This article takes an innovative new approach in tackling the difficult question of how advocates influence legislation. It presents the first, comprehensive empirical study of how advocates influence the law through amendments in the legislative process. The article analyzes an original dataset of 2137 witnesses testifying at referral hearings on 108 Indian related bills in the 97th and 106th Congresses. The analysis identifies amendments as an important yet previously undocumented way in which advocates influence legislation. It uncovers a rarely observed relationship between legislative advocates and sitting members of Congress. Comparison of advocates’ testimony on bills to amendments proposed by committee members reveals similar and even identical language, providing compelling evidence that groups persuaded legislators to introduce amendments valued by the group. The analysis also demonstrates how advocate influence at the hearing and mark up stage of the legislative process frequently shapes the law by dramatically increasing the likelihood of legislative enactment. These findings reveal an important mechanism that advocates can use to change the law. Further, they challenge prevailing narratives about power by demonstrating how underrepresented groups can leverage the legislative process in their law reform efforts.
Expanding special criminal jurisdiction of Tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands; and supporting the development of a pilot project to enhance access to safety for survivors in Alaska Native villages.
Designed by Nez Perce artist Helen Goodteacher to support The Native American Alliance for Policy and Action MMIW events in 2021
Section 903 of H.R. 1602 (which is what I assume Congress adopted) includes the additional crimes that Indian tribes may not prosecute against non-Indians:
Legislative: Hearing on Tribal-Related Legislation – Including RESPECT Act and Stop Act
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United StatesDate: Thursday, May 20, 2021Add to my CalendarTime: 12:00 PMPresiding: The Honorable Teresa Leger Fernández, Chair
On Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States (SCIP) will host a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing on the following tribal-related legislation:
H.R. 2930 (Rep. Leger Fernández), To enhance protections of Native American tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes, STOP Act of 2021.
H.R. 438 (Rep. Young), To amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.
RESPECT Act [discussion draft] (Rep. Raúl Grijalva), To prescribe procedures for effective consultation and coordination by Federal agencies with federally recognized Indian Tribes regarding Federal Government actions that impact Tribal lands and interests to ensure that meaningful Tribal input is an integral part of the Federal decision-making process.
Witness List
The Honorable Brian D. Vallo (H.R. 2930) (testimony)
Turtle Talk 
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