Today, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on four bills to support tribal sovereignty, the restoration of tribal homelands and the well-being of tribal members and their local communities. Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) issued the following statement in response:

"These bills support tribal sovereignty and offer real solutions. They help restore land, the well-being of tribal members, and community benefits to education and land use. Our subcommittee remains focused on delivering results and advancing policies that make a difference."

Background

H.R. 411, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), directs the Department of the Interior to transfer $33.9 million in funds to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) to settle the KBIC's land claims and clear title to those lands.

H.R. 2916, introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), authorizes, ratifies and confirms the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim Settlement Agreement. This agreement addresses a longstanding land dispute in New York and is the product of significant mediation by all parties involved. It increases tribal autonomy and provides significant community benefits related to education and land use. 

H.R. 3620, the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), conveys certain federal property to the Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska, to support its health care services. Southcentral Foundation (SCF) is the Alaska Native tribal health organization designated by Cook Inlet Region, Inc. and eleven federally recognized Tribes to provide healthcare services to beneficiaries of the Indian Health Service under a 638 compact.

H.R. 3670, the IHS Provider Expansion Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), establishes an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service (IHS).