Legislation

Paul Ryan’s Indian Affairs Votes in 111th and 112th Congresses

Matthew L.M. Fletcher18 Comments

111th Congress

H.R. 3590, Permanent Reauthorization of Indian Health Care Improvement Act

Rep. Ryan voted against permanently reauthorizing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml

 

H.R. 725, Tribal Law and Order Act

Rep. Ryan voted against Senate amendments to include the Tribal Law and Order Act in the House passed bill, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll455.xml

 

H.R. 4873, Cobell Settlement Act

Rep. Ryan voted against Senate amendments to include the Cobell settlement in the House passed bill, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll584.xml

 

H.R. 4873, Water Settlements – Crow, Aamodt, White Mountain Apache, Taos Pueblo

Rep. Ryan voted against Senate amendments include the water settlements for seven tribes in the House passed bill, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll584.xml

 

112th Congress

H.R. 4970, VAWA Reauthorization

Rep. Ryan voted to pass VAWA reauthorization that did not include tribal provision recognizing tribal authority over non-Indians on Indian lands in domestic violence cases, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll258.xml

 

H.R. 205, HEARTH Act

Ryan voted for the HEARTH Act, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll252.xml

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Ryan Dreveskracht on VAWA and the Objections to an Oliphant Fix

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Ryan Dreveskracht has provided a draft of his paper, “House Republicans Add Insult to Native Womens’ Injury,” forthcoming in the University of Miami Race and Social Justice Law Review.

Here is the draft:

 

Aug_16_2012 VAWA Manuscript Submission

Some Dissent on the HEARTH Act

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here: “Are Hopes for the HEARTH Act Too High?”

Last Friday’s Native America Calling Program on HEARTH Act

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Friday, August 10, 2012 – Tribes Taking Control Over Leasing Their Land: (listen)
As the month of July came to a close President Barack Obama put a pen to paper to make the Helping to Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership (HEARTH) Act a new law. It grants greater authority to federally recognized tribes to develop and implement their own regulations for leasing on Indian lands. What opportunities does this law provide to tribal nations and their citizens? How does this new extension of sovereignty play into strengthening tribal communities? How does this legislation change things for Native families who want to own their own home or tribal citizens who want to open up their own business? Guests include Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Tribe of Chippewa Indians) Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs/Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior.

Featuring Bryan Newland, MSU ILPC grad (2007).

ABA Resolution Supporting VAWA Reauthorization and Tribal Jurisdiction

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here:

ABA Final Tribal Jurisdiction – VAWA reauthorization resolution as approved 8-7-2012

The materials are here on the ABA site as well:

Two Year Anniversary of TLOA

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the announcement from the White House.

Improper State Taxation of Reservation-Domiciled Military Servicemembers

Peter Scott Vicaire1 Comment

A week before the country celebrated Independence Day, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma became the first Native nation to adopt an official resolution in support of restoring improperly withheld pay to eligible Native American veterans and service members.

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Subcommittee Hearing Today 2pm ET on Three House Resolutions

Adrea Korthase

Information here

  • H.R. 726 (Schrader), To amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 3319 (Grijalva), To allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe.
  • H.R. 6141 (Schrader), To provide for the addition of certain real property to the reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the State of Oregon.

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Director Michael Black (H.R. 726, H.R. 3319 and H.R. 6141) Bureau of Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior

Panel II

Vice-Chairman Reyn Leno (H.R. 726 and H.R. 6141) Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Grand Ronde, Oregon

Chair Delores Pigsley (H.R. 726 and H.R. 6141) Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon Siletz, Oregon

Chairman Robert Garcia (H.R. 6141) Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Coos Bay, Oregon

Commissioner Terry Thompson (H.R. 6141) Lincoln County Newport, Oregon

Chairman Peter Yucupicio (H.R. 3319) Pascua Yaqui Tribe Tucson, Arizona

HEARTH Act Passes Sentate; Goes to President for Signature

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Press release from Rep. Heinrich’s office:

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 17, 2012) – Legislation sponsored by U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) to remove barriers between Native American families and homeownership cleared the Senate today by a unanimous vote.  The bill, the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership (HEARTH) Act (H.R. 205), would allow tribes to exercise greater control over their lands and eliminate bureaucratic delays that stand in the way of homeownership and economic development in tribal communities.

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LTBB Tribal Council Votes Down Same-Sex Marriage Amendment, but Debate Continues

Adrea Korthase1 Comment

An excerpt from the Petoskey News:

The motion to approve the amendment failed on a 4-5 vote, but a second vote — passing 5-4 — put the entire tribal marriage statute that defines marriage as between a man and a woman up for legislative review.

The amendment would have made the tribe the first in Michigan to allow same-sex couples to wed. Only two tribes in the nation have adopted a similar marriage definition.

The decision would also have skirted a 2004 ballot proposal by Michigan voters that banned gay marriage for the entire state population, because the federal government recognizes tribes’ rights to govern themselves as a domestic nation.

Despite the failed vote, the issue is unlikely to be dropped.

Previous post on the topic is here. Miigwetch to C.D.