December 7th, 2016 – Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing on Land Buy-Back Program for Tribes
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has scheduled an oversight hearing to examine the Department of the Interior’s Land Buy-Back program for Tribal Nations. A link to the program at the Department can be found here: https://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram, which includes additional information and a copy of the 2016 Status Report.
The hearing will take place on Wednesday, December 7th, at 2:15 p.m. EST in Room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Witnesses for live testimony are by invitation only, and a list will be posted on the Committee’s website once confirmed. The record will be open for two weeks following the hearing for written comments. A webcast of this hearing will be available on the scheduled hearing date on the Committee website.
For more information about the hearing or the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, please visit: http://www.indian.senate.gov/
Congress in Discussions to Pass Short-Term Continuing Resolution; Fund the Government Until March 2017
Today, House Congressional leaders announced that they will seek to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government for FY17. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers noted that any CR would provide funding until March 31, 2017.
A CR maintains the current funding level for federal agencies, with no increases or decreases that may have been included during the appropriations process.
By waiting until early next year, the GOP Congress will have more leverage under the Trump administration to get spending priorities and policy riders into law. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is less enthusiastic about the prospect of delaying federal funding decisions, as the Senate will have time consuming judicial and cabinet confirmations to contend with at the beginning of 2017.
Senate Democrats Announce Leadership Positions for the 115th Congress
Today, the Senate Democratic Caucus announced leadership and ranking member positions for the 115th Congress. As expected, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will serve as Democratic Minority Leader, the position formerly held by retiring Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).
Senator Schumer added leadership posts for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to ensure that working class Americans have a voice in Senate Democratic leadership.
There are a number of changes to the Ranking Member positions in the various Committees. Of importance to Indian Country is the rise of Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) to serve as Ranking Member for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (taking over for Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) who moves to serve as Ranking for the Veterans Affairs Committee). In addition, Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) will assume the role of Ranking Member for the Appropriations Committee, taking the helm from retiring Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
The full list of Democratic leadership and committee appointments for the 115th Congress are posted below.
115th Congress:
Senate Democratic Leader and Chair of the Conference: Senator Charles Schumer
Democratic Whip: Senator Dick Durbin
Assistant Democratic Leader: Senator Patty Murray
Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee: Senator Debbie Stabenow
Vice Chair of the Conference: Senator Elizabeth Warren
Vice Chair of the Conference: Senator Mark Warner
Chair of Steering Committee: Senator Amy Klobuchar
Chair of Outreach: Senator Bernie Sanders
Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee: Senator Joe Manchin
Senate Democratic Conference Secretary: Senator Tammy Baldwin
The committee ranking members for the 115th Congress:
Agriculture: Senator Debbie Stabenow
Armed Services: Senator Jack Reed
Appropriations: Senator Patrick Leahy
Banking: Senator Sherrod Brown
Budget: Senator Bernie Sanders
Commerce: Senator Bill Nelson
Energy: Senator Maria Cantwell
EPW: Senator Tom Carper
Finance: Senator Ron Wyden
Foreign Relations: Senator Ben Cardin
HELP: Senator Patty Murray
HSGAC: Senator Claire McCaskill
Indian Affairs: Senator Tom Udall
Judiciary: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Rules: Senator Amy Klobuchar
Small Business: Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Veterans Affairs: Senator Jon Tester
Aging: Senator Bob Casey
Ethics: Senator Chris Coons
Intelligence: Senator Mark Warner
JEC: Senator Martin Heinrich
