Veterans Affairs Waive Copays for Native American Veterans
On April 4, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) waived the copayment requirement for American Indian and Alaskan Native veterans receiving care at VA healthcare centers. The VA published the final rule in the Federal Register at 88 FR 19862-19873 (Final...
Senate Appropriations Hearing on Interior FY 2024 Budget
On March 29, 2023, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a hearing on President Biden's FY 2024 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior. The budget requests $18.9 billion, an increase of $2 billion from...
Proposed Revisions to Indian Arts and Crafts Act and Regulations
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are considering changes to the laws and regulations governing Indian Arts and Crafts. Both SCIA and BIA developed proposals to revise, amend, and enforce the laws and regulations that...
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Case Challenging Tribal Water Rights
On Monday, March 20, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments in a case threatening the ability of Indian tribes to protect and enforce their water rights. Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Navajo Nation can pursue its...
President Biden Releases Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request
On March 9, 2023, President Biden released his $6.9 trillion funding request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, known as his "Budget Request." The Budget Request serves as the President's proposal for federal agency funding for the upcoming FY and reflects his policy...
Haaland Secretarial Order to Restore American Bison and Prairie Grasslands
By Logan Big Eagle, Contributing Attorney On March 3, 2023, Deb Haaland issued Secretarial Order No. 3410 on the “Restoration of American Bison and the Prairie Grasslands.” The purpose of the Order is “to enhance the Department of the Interior’s work to restore wild...
U.S. Forest Service Releases Tribal Action Plan
On February 3, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released a new Tribal Action Plan titled "Strengthening Tribal Consultation and Nation-to-Nation Relationships." The Plan aims to strengthen Tribal consultation through...
Congress Introduces Carcieri-fix and 99-Year Leasing Bills
By Maurisa Bell, Contributing Attorney The 118th Congress has gotten off to a busy start. In addition to hearings on funding for the Federal government, identifying tribal priorities, and bills on energy issues, in late February, Members of Congress introduced two...
Over 100 Tribes File Amicus Briefs in Supreme Court Case Challenging Tribal Water Rights
On Monday, March 20, 2023, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case threatening the ability of Indian tribes to protect and enforce their water rights. Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Navajo Nation can pursue its water...
Indian Affairs Congressional Committees Organize for 118th Congress
Committees in the United States Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, convened recently to hold organizational meetings, welcome new members, and vote on their rules for the 118th Congress. The committees involved include the Senate Committee on...