Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta. The case threatens to limit the effect of the landmark decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. In the 2020 McGirt case, the Supreme Court held that Congress never disestablished the Muscogee...
U.S. Senators returned to Washington, D.C. on April 25, and resumed consideration of a proposed COVID-19 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. The bill would provide $10 billion in funding for additional vaccines, testing, and therapeutics. However, the Senate would pay...
The Department of the Interior will host consultations to solicit input from Tribes on proposed revisions to the regulations governing Fee-to-Trust applications and Class III Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. In proposing revisions, the Department stated that...
On March 29, President Biden released his budget proposal for FY 2023. According to the White House, the proposed funding for Tribal programs and services reflects direct consultations with Tribal Nations. Significant agency funding in the proposal for tribes include:...
At the end of March 2022, the White House released its Report on Native American Voting Rights. The Report found that Native Americans face “unnecessary and unacceptable impediments” to exercising their voting rights. According to the Report, several...
On April 7, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced plans to form its first Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). GAO is calling for nominations to fill 15 positions. The TAC will advise GAO on vital and emerging issues affecting Tribes and Indigenous...
On February 28, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the Haaland v. Brackeen case. The Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of ICWA, its validity under the Indian Commerce...
On February 25, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the 116th Justice of the United States Supreme Court. If confirmed, Judge Jackson would take the seat of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer and become the court’s first Black female justice....
On March 10, as a part of the FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA is the important and historic act that restored tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians for certain crimes including child violence, sexual...
On March 10, Congress passed a $1.5 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill to fund the Federal government through FY 2022. The Bill increases funding for a number of important tribal programs and services. Overall, approximately $10 billion will be provided to fund...
