106 S761 RS: Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-07-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IICalendar No. 139119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 761[Report No. 119–54]IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 26, 2025Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Smith, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Booker, Mr. Luján, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian AffairsJuly 31, 2025Reported by Ms. Murkowski, without amendmentA BILLTo establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2025.(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Purposes.Sec. 3. Definitions.TITLE I—Commission and SubcommitteeSubtitle A—Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United StatesSec. 101. Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States.Subtitle B—Duties of the CommissionSec. 111. Duties of the Commission.Subtitle C—Survivors Truth and Healing SubcommitteeSec. 121. Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee.TITLE II—Advisory Committees Subtitle A—Native American Truth and Healing Advisory CommitteeSec. 201. Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee.Subtitle B—Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory CommitteeSec. 211. Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee.TITLE III—General ProvisionsSec. 301. Clarification.Sec. 302. Burial management.Sec. 303. Co-stewardship agreements.Sec. 304. No right of action.

2.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are—(1)to establish a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, including other necessary advisory committees and subcommittees;(2)to formally investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian Boarding Schools, Indian Boarding School Polices, and the systematic and long-term effects of those schools and policies on Native American peoples;(3)to develop recommendations for Federal efforts based on the findings of the Commission; and(4)to promote healing for survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, the descendants of those survivors, and the communities of those survivors.

3.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Commission

The term Commission means the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States established by section 101(a).(2)

Federal and religious truth and healing advisory committee

The term Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee means the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee established by section 211(a).(3)

Indian

The term Indian has the meaning given the term in section 6151 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7491).(4)

Indian boarding school

The term Indian Boarding School means—(A)a site of an institution that—(i)provided on-site housing or overnight lodging;(ii)was described in Federal records as providing formal academic or vocational training and instruction to Native Americans;(iii)received Federal funds or other Federal support; and(iv)was operational before 1969;(B)a site of an institution identified by the Department of the Interior in appendices A and B of the report entitled Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report and dated May 2022 (or a successor report); or(C)any other institution that implemented Indian Boarding School Policies, including an Indian day school.(5)

Indian boarding school policies

The term Indian Boarding School Policies means Federal laws, policies, and practices purported to assimilate and civilize Native Americans that included psychological, physical, sexual, and mental abuse, forced removal from home or community, and identity-altering practices intended to terminate Native languages, cultures, religions, social organizations, or connections to traditional land.(6)

Indian tribe

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).(7)

Native american

The term Native American means an individual who is—(A)an Indian; or(B)a Native Hawaiian.(8)

Native american truth and healing advisory committee

The term Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee means the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee established by the Commission under section 201(a).(9)

Native hawaiian

The term Native Hawaiian has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).(10)

Native hawaiian organization

The term Native Hawaiian organization means a private nonprofit organization that—(A)serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians;(B)has as its primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native Hawaiians;(C)has Native Hawaiians serving in substantive and policymaking positions; and(D)has expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs.(11)

Office of hawaiian affairs

The term Office of Hawaiian Affairs has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).(12)

Survivors truth and healing subcommittee

The term Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee means the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee established by section 121(a).(13)

Trauma-informed care

The term trauma-informed care means holistic psychological and health care practices that include promoting culturally responsive practices, patient psychological, physical, and emotional safety, and environments of healing, trust, peer support, and recovery.(14)

Tribal organization

The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

July 31, 2025Reported without amendment