Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the first two House Committee on Natural Resources bills of the 118th Congress. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"These are the kinds of bipartisan, commonsense bills that our committee exists to facilitate. The passage of H.R. 423 and H.R. 548 will enable tribes in Tennessee and California to protect their sacred land and ensure the security of their timeless heritage, culture, tradition and history. I was honored to speak on their behalf today, and hope to see them quickly moved through the legislative process and signed into law."

Background

• H.R. 423, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), places approximately 721 acres of land the Pala Band of Mission Indians currently owns into trust.

• H.R. 548, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), places approximately 96 acres of Tennessee Valley Authority land and permanent easements into trust along the shores of the Little Tennessee River and Tellico Reservoir in Monroe County, Tenn., for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.