Today, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on two bills to improve access to culturally significant sites and tribal financial resources. Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) issued the following statement in response:

“Tribal sovereignty means respecting the ability of Tribes and Alaska Natives to manage their own lands, resources and communities. The bills before our Subcommittee today take practical steps to uphold that principle by protecting a place of cultural importance for Alaska Natives and ensuring Tribes can access resources that belong to them. I’m proud to chair this hearing and work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance commonsense solutions that respect tribal sovereignty and self-determination.”

Background

H.R. 8674, the Geese House Site Conveyance Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), transfers ownership of the Geese House Site from the National Park Service to Doyon, Limited, to ensure the culturally significant site is managed by the Alaska Native Athabascan people.

H.R. 7269, the Helping Our People Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Rep. Emily Randall (D-Wash.), amends the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 to clarify that amounts in the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Trust Fund may be withdrawn by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.