[Senate Prints 112-50]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



112th Congress              COMMITTEE PRINT                     S. Prt.
                                                                 112-50
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     

 
                   HISTORY, JURISDICTION, AND SUMMARY
                       OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
                                 OF THE
                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                      COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

                               DURING THE

                      ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS

                               2011-2012


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#13


         Printed for the use of the Committee on Indian Affairs



                  U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-426                    WASHINGTON : 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
http://bookstore.gpo.gov. For more information, contact the GPO Customer Contact Center, U.S. Government Printing Office. Phone 202ï¿½09512ï¿½091800, or 866ï¿½09512ï¿½091800 (toll-free). E-mail, [email protected].  


                      COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

                   DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii, Chairman

                 JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming, Vice Chairman

DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii             JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
KENT CONRAD, North Dakota            LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska
TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota            JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington           MIKE CRAPO, Idaho
JON TESTER, Montana                  MIKE JOHANNS, Nebraska
TOM UDALL, New Mexico
AL FRANKEN, Minnesota

      Loretta A. Tuell, Majority Staff Director and Chief Counsel

     David A. Mullon Jr., Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel


                  I. HISTORY AND JURISDICTION

    A. Summary. In 1977, the Senate re established the 
Committee on Indian Affairs, making it a temporary select 
committee (S. Res. 4, 105, 95th Congress, 1st Sess. (1977), as 
amended). The Select Committee on Indian Affairs was to disband 
at the close of the 95th Congress, but following several term 
extensions, the Senate voted to make the Committee permanent on 
June 6, 1984. The Committee has jurisdiction to study the 
unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska 
Native peoples and to propose legislation to alleviate these 
problems. These issues include, but are not limited to, Indian 
education, economic development, land management, trust 
responsibilities, health care, and claims against the United 
States. Additionally, all legislation proposed by Members of 
the Senate specifically pertaining to American Indians, Native 
Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives is under the jurisdiction of the 
Committee.
    B. History. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs had been 
in existence since the early 19th century, until 1946, when a 
legislative reorganization act abolished both the House and 
Senate Committees on Indian Affairs. After 1946, Indian affairs 
legislative and oversight jurisdiction was vested in 
subcommittees of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committees of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate. While this 
subcommittee arrangement may not have specifically reflected a 
diminishment of the consideration given Indian affairs by 
Congress, the revised arrangement coincided historically with 
the ``Termination Era''--a period in which the prevailing 
policy of the United States was to terminate the Federal 
relationship with Indian tribes and to transfer jurisdiction 
over tribal lands to the states.
    By the mid 1960s, the Termination Era philosophy was in 
decline as a failed policy, and Congress began to include 
Indian tribes in legislation designed to rebuild the social 
infrastructure of the Nation and provide economic opportunities 
for economically depressed areas. In the early 1970s, the 
Termination era was decisively ended with the enactment of the 
Menominee Restoration Act of 1973. Although a number of 
important legislative initiatives affecting Indians were 
enacted in the early 1970s, it became clear that the existing 
subcommittee structure was not providing an adequate forum for 
legislating appropriate solutions to problems confronting 
Indian country. Legislative jurisdiction over Indian affairs 
was fragmented among a number of committees. Overall, more than 
10 committees in Congress were responsible for Indian affairs, 
a situation which resulted in a sometimes disjointed treatment 
of Indian affairs and in an often haphazard development of 
Federal Indian policy.
    C. Re Establishment of Committee. In 1973, Senator James 
Abourezk introduced Senate Joint Resolution No. 133 to 
establish a Federal commission to review all aspects of policy, 
law, and administration relating to affairs of the United 
States with American Indian tribes and people. The Senate and 
the House of Representatives both adopted S.J. Res. 133, and on 
January 2, 1975, the Resolution was signed into law (see Pub. 
L. No. 93-580) by the President, thus establishing the American 
Indian Policy Review Commission (Commission). As the work of 
this Commission progressed, it became apparent that a Senate 
committee with full legislative and oversight authority was 
needed to receive the report of the Commission and to act upon 
its recommendations. Indeed, one of the final recommendations 
of the Commission was that a full fledged Indian Affairs 
Committee be established in the Senate.
    At the same time the Commission was formulating its 
recommendation for the establishment of an Indian Affairs 
Committee, the Senate was developing a far reaching proposal 
for reorganization of the entire Senate committee system. Under 
this proposal, the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs under the 
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs was to be abolished 
with its natural resource functions to be distributed among 
other newly formed Senate committees and its human resources 
functions to be transferred to the Senate Committee on Labor 
and Human Resources.
    In view of the pending report of the Commission and its 
anticipated recommendations, however, the Senate revamped its 
committee reorganization proposal to include the establishment 
of a temporary select committee to receive the Commission's 
report and to act on its recommendations. Thus, there was 
included within Senate Resolution 4 of February 4, 1977, the 
Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977, a provision 
to establish a Select Committee on Indian Affairs with full 
jurisdiction over all proposed legislation and other matters 
relating to Indian affairs. With the commencement of the 96th 
Congress, the Select Committee on Indian Affairs was to expire 
and jurisdiction over Indian matters was to be transferred to 
the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
    As the Select Committee on Indian Affairs grappled with the 
report of the Commission and the many other Indian issues that 
were presented to it during the 95th Congress, it became 
increasingly evident that in order for Congress to continue to 
meet its constitutional, legal, and historical responsibilities 
in the area of Indian affairs, an ongoing legislative committee 
with adequate expertise and resources should be re established 
in the Senate.
    Senate Resolution 405, to make the Select Committee on 
Indian Affairs a permanent committee of the Senate, was 
introduced by Senator Abourezk on February 22, 1978. The 
measure was amended by the Senate Committee on Rules and 
Administration to extend the life of the committee for two 
years until January 2, 1981, and was agreed to, as amended, by 
the Senate on October 14, 1978. In the 96th Congress, Senator 
John Melcher, who was at the time Chairman of the Select 
Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced Senate Resolution 448 
to make it a permanent committee. The Resolution had 28 
cosponsors, and was reported by the Committee on Rules and 
Administration with an amendment to extend the Select Committee 
to January 2, 1984, and to expand the membership to seven 
members commencing in the 97th Congress. Senate Resolution 448 
was adopted by the Senate on December 11, 1980.
    D. Permanent Committee. On April 28, 1983, Senator Mark 
Andrews, Chairman of the Select Committee on Indian Affairs in 
the 98th Congress, introduced Senate Resolution 127 to make the 
Committee a permanent committee. This Resolution had 28 
cosponsors. On November 1, 1983, the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration voted unanimously to report the Resolution 
without amendment, and the Resolution was so reported on 
November 2, 1983 (S. Rept. 98 294). On November 18, 1983, the 
last day of the first session of the 98th Congress, the Senate 
agreed to an extension of the Select Committee to July 1, 1984, 
in order to allow time for debate. By the time Senate 
Resolution 127 was brought to the floor for consideration there 
were 60 cosponsors. On June 4, 1984, the Select Committee on 
Indian Affairs was made a permanent committee of the Senate (S. 
Res. 127, 98th Cong., 2nd Sess.). In 1993, the Select Committee 
on Indian Affairs was re-designated as the Committee on Indian 
Affairs ( 25, S. Res. 71, 103rd Cong., 1st Sess.).
    E. Committee Membership. The number of members serving on 
the Committee has expanded since its formation in 1977. At the 
time the Committee was formed in the 95th Congress, there were 
five members. The membership remained at five in the 96th 
Congress, but grew to seven in the 97th Congress. The 
membership increased to nine in the 99th Congress, and by the 
101st Congress, the Committee membership grew to 10. In the 
102nd Congress, the membership of the Committee expanded to 16 
members. A further increase occurred in the beginning of the 
103rd Congress when the membership was expanded to 18. In the 
104th Congress, the Senate only named 17 of its members to 
serve on the Committee, and elected Senator John McCain as 
Chairman and Senator Daniel K. Inouye as Vice Chairman. The 
Senate further amended the membership of the Committee to 16 
later in the 104th Congress.
    In the 104th Congress, the Senate agreed to amend again the 
membership of the Committee from 16 to 14 members. In the 107th 
Congress, the Senate appointed 15 members to the Committee. In 
May, 2001 Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to 
become an Independent. At that time Senator Ben Nighthorse 
Campbell relinquished the Chairmanship to become Vice Chairman 
of the Committee and Senator Inouye became Chairman. In the 
108th Congress, Senator Campbell re-assumed the Chairmanship 
and Senator Inouye served as Vice Chairman with 14 members on 
the Committee. In the 109th Congress, Senator McCain served as 
Chairman and Senator Byron L. Dorgan became Vice Chairman. In 
the 110th Congress, Senator Byron L. Dorgan became Chairman of 
the Committee and Senator Craig Thomas became Vice Chairman. 
Senator Thomas passed away on June 4, 2007. Senator Lisa 
Murkowski became Vice Chairman of the Committee on July 19, 
2007, and served for the remainder of the Congress. Senator 
John Barrasso was added to the minority membership of the 
Committee to maintain the total membership of 15 for the 110th 
Congress. In the 111th Congress, the membership of the 
Committee remained at 15 members, Senator Byron L. Dorgan 
continued to serve as Chairman of the Committee, and Senator 
John Barrasso became Vice Chairman. In the 112th Congress, 
Senator Akaka served as Chairman and Senator Barrasso served as 
Vice Chairman with 14 members on the Committee.

 II. JURISDICTION AND RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

      A. Excerpts from Senate Resolution 4. The Committee System 
           Reorganization Amendments of 1977 as amended and 
revised to reflect membership and designations applicable to the 112th 
                 Congress. The Committee was initially 
        established as the Select Committee on Indian Affairs. 
        Section 25 of S. Res. 71, 103rd Congress, 1st Session, 
          redesignates it as the Committee on Indian Affairs.

    Committee on Indian Affairs, to which committee shall be 
referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, 
memorials, and other matters relating to Indian affairs:

        SEC. 105(a)(1) There is established a Committee on 
        Indian Affairs [hereafter in this section referred to 
        as the ``select committee''] which shall consist of 
        [15] Members, [9] to be appointed by the President of 
        the Senate, upon the recommendation of the majority 
        leader, from among Members of the majority party and 
        [6] to be appointed by the President of the Senate, 
        upon recommendation of the minority leader, from among 
        the Members of the minority party. The committee shall 
        select a Chairman from among its Members.
        (2) A majority of the Members of the Committee shall 
        constitute a quorum thereof for the transaction of 
        business, except that the committee may fix a lesser 
        number as a quorum for the purpose of taking testimony. 
        The Committee shall adopt rules of procedure not 
        inconsistent with this section and the rules of the 
        Senate governing standing committees of the Senate.
        (3) Vacancies in the Membership of the committee shall 
        not affect the authority of the remaining Members to 
        execute the functions of the Committee.
        (4) For purposes of paragraph 6 of rule XXV of the 
        Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a 
        Member or Chairman of the Committee shall not be taken 
        into account.
        (b)(1) All proposed legislation, messages, petitions, 
        memorials, and other matters relating to Indian affairs 
        shall be referred to the Committee.
        (2) It shall be the duty of the Committee to conduct a 
        study of any and all matters pertaining to problems and 
        opportunities of Indians, including but not limited to, 
        Indian land management and trust responsibilities, 
        Indian education, health, special services, and loan 
        programs, and Indian claims against the United States.
        (3) The Committee shall from time to time report to 
        the Senate, by bill or otherwise within its 
        jurisdiction.
        (c)(1) For the purposes of this resolution, the 
        committee is authorized, in its discretion, (A) to make 
        investigations into any matter within its jurisdiction, 
        (B) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of 
        the Senate, (C) to employ personnel, (D) to hold 
        hearings, (E) to sit and act at any time or place 
        during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of 
        the Senate, (F) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, 
        the attendance of witnesses and the production of 
        correspondence, books, papers, and documents, (G) to 
        take depositions and other testimony, (H) to procure 
        the services of individual consultants or organizations 
        thereof, in accordance with the provisions of section 
        202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, 
        and (I) with the prior consent of the Government 
        department or agency concerned and the Committee on 
        Rules and Administration, to use on a reimbursable 
        basis the services of personnel of any such department 
        or agency.
        (2) The Chairman of the Committee or any Member 
        thereof may administer oaths to witnesses.
        (3) Subpoenas authorized by the Committee may be 
        issued over the signature of the Chairman, or any 
        Member of the Committee designated by the Chairman, and 
        may be served by any person designated by the Chairman 
        or any Member signing the subpoena.

              B. Rules of the Committee on Indian Affairs.

    Senate Standing Rule XXVI requires each committee to adopt 
rules to govern the procedures of the committee and to publish 
those rules in the Congressional Record not later than March 1 
of the first year of each Congress. On February 16, 2011, the 
Committee on Indian Affairs held a business meeting during 
which the Members of the committee unanimously adopted rules to 
govern the procedures of the committee. The rules were printed 
in the Congressional Record on February 16, 2011. The rules, as 
adopted, are as follows:

                RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

    Rule 1. The Standing Rules of the Senate, Senate Resolution 
4, and the provisions of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 
1946, as amended by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 
to the extent the provisions of such Act are applicable to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs and supplemented by these rules, 
are adopted as the rules of the Committee.

                        MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE

    Rule 2. The Committee shall meet on Thursday while the 
Congress is in session for the purpose of conducting business, 
unless for the convenience of the Members, the Chairman shall 
set some other day for a meeting. Additional meetings may be 
called by the Chairman as he may deem necessary.

                       OPEN HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

    Rule 3(a). Hearings and business meetings of the Committee 
shall be open to the public except when the Chairman by a 
majority vote orders a closed hearing or meeting.
    (b). Except as otherwise provided in the Rules of the 
Senate, a transcript or electronic recording shall be kept of 
each hearing and business meeting of the Committee.

                           HEARING PROCEDURE

    Rule 4(a). Public notice, including notice to Members of 
the Committee, shall be given of the date, place and subject 
matter of any hearing to be held by the Committee at least one 
week in advance of such hearing unless the Chairman of the 
Committee, with the concurrence of the Vice Chairman, 
determines that holding the hearing would be non-controversial 
or that special circumstances require expedited procedures and 
a majority of the Committee Members attending concurs. In no 
case shall a hearing be conducted with less than 24 hours 
notice.
    (b). Each witness who is to appear before the Committee 
shall submit his or her testimony by way of electronic mail, at 
least 48 hours in advance of a hearing, in a format determined 
by the Committee and sent to an electronic mail address 
specified by the Committee.
    (c). Each Member shall be limited to five (5) minutes of 
questioning of any witness until such time as all Members 
attending who so desire have had an opportunity to question the 
witness unless the Committee shall decide otherwise.
    (d). The Chairman and Vice Chairman or the ranking Majority 
and Minority Members present at the hearing may each appoint 
one Committee staff member to question each witness. Such staff 
member may question the witness only after all Members present 
have completed their questioning of the witness or at such time 
as the Chairman and Vice Chairman or the Ranking Majority and 
Minority Members present may agree.

                        BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA

    Rule 5(a). A legislative measure or subject shall be 
included in the agenda of the next following business meeting 
of the Committee if a written request by a Member for 
consideration of such measure or subject has been filed with 
the Chairman of the Committee at least one week prior to such 
meeting. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to limit the 
authority of the Chairman of the Committee to include 
legislative measures or subjects on the Committee agenda in the 
absence of such request.
    (b). Any bill, resolution, or other matter to be considered 
by the Committee at a business meeting shall be filed with the 
Clerk of the Committee. Notice of, and the agenda for, any 
business meeting of the Committee, and a copy of any bill, 
resolution, or other matter to be considered at the meeting, 
shall be provided to each Member and made available to the 
public at least three days prior to such meeting, and no new 
items may be added after the agenda is published except by the 
approval of a majority of the Members of the Committee. The 
notice and agenda of any business meeting may be provided to 
the Members by electronic mail, provided that a paper copy will 
be provided to any Member upon request. The Clerk shall 
promptly notify absent Members of any action taken by the 
Committee on matters not included in the published agenda.
    (c). Any amendment(s) to any bill or resolution to be 
considered shall be filed with the Clerk not less than 24 hours 
in advance. This rule may be waived by the Chairman with the 
concurrence of the Vice Chairman. This rule may be waived by 
the Chairman with the concurrence of the Vice Chairman.

                                 QUORUM

    Rule 6(a). Except as provided in subsection (b), a majority 
of the Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business of the Committee. Except as provided in Senate Rule 
XXVI 7(a), a quorum is presumed to be present unless the 
absence of a quorum is noted by a Member.
    (b). One Member shall constitute a quorum for the purpose 
of conducting a hearing or taking testimony on any measure or 
matter before the Committee.

                                 VOTING

    Rule 7(a). A recorded vote of the Members shall be taken 
upon the request of any Member.
    (b). A measure may be reported without a recorded vote from 
the Committee unless an objection is made by a Member, in which 
case a recorded vote by the Members shall be required. A Member 
shall have the right to have his or her additional views 
included in the Committee report in accordance with Senate Rule 
XXVI 10.
    (c). A Committee vote to report a measure to the Senate 
shall also authorize the staff of the Committee to make 
necessary technical and conforming changes to the measure.
    (d). Proxy voting shall be permitted on all matters, except 
that proxies may not be counted for the purpose of determining 
the presence of a quorum. Unless further limited, a proxy shall 
be exercised only for the date for which it is given and upon 
the terms published in the agenda for that date.

                SWORN TESTIMONY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    Rule 8(a). Witnesses in Committee hearings may be required 
to give testimony under oath whenever the Chairman or Vice 
Chairman of the Committee deems it to be necessary.
    (b). At any hearing to confirm a Presidential nomination, 
the testimony of the nominee, and at the request of any Member, 
any other witness shall be under oath. Every nominee shall 
submit a financial statement, on forms to be perfected by the 
Committee, which shall be sworn to by the nominee as to its 
completeness and accuracy. All such statements shall be made 
public by the Committee unless the Committee, in executive 
session, determines that special circumstances require a full 
or partial exception to this rule.
    (c). Members of the Committee are urged to make public a 
complete disclosure of their financial interests on forms to be 
perfected by the Committee in the manner required in the case 
of Presidential nominees.

                         CONFIDENTIAL TESTIMONY

    Rule 9. No confidential testimony taken by, or confidential 
material presented to the Committee or any report of the 
proceedings of a closed Committee hearing or business meeting 
shall be made public in whole or in part, or by way of summary, 
unless authorized by a majority of the Members of the Committee 
at a business meeting called for the purpose of making such a 
determination.

                         DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS

    Rule 10. Any person whose name is mentioned or who is 
specifically identified in, or who believes that testimony or 
other evidence presented at, an open Committee hearing tends to 
defame him or her or otherwise adversely affect his or her 
reputation may file with the Committee for its consideration 
and action a sworn statement of facts relevant to such 
testimony of evidence.

                  BROADCASTING OR HEARINGS OR MEETINGS

    Rule 11. Any meeting or hearing by the Committee which is 
open to the public may be covered in whole or in part by 
television, Internet, radio broadcast, or still photography. 
Photographers and reporters using mechanical recording, 
filming, or broadcasting devices shall position their equipment 
so as not to interfere with the sight, vision, and hearing of 
Members and staff on the dais or with the orderly process of 
the meeting or hearing.

                         AUTHORIZING SUBPOENAS

    Rule 12. The Chairman may, with the agreement of the Vice 
Chairman, or the Committee may, by majority vote, authorize the 
issuance of subpoenas.

                           AMENDING THE RULES

    Rule 13. These rules may be amended only by a vote of a 
majority of all the Members of the Committee in a business 
meeting of the Committee: Provided, that no vote may be taken 
on any proposed amendment unless such amendment is reproduced 
in full in the Committee agenda for such meeting at least seven 
(7) days in advance of such meeting.
 III. SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE 112th CONGRESS

    A. Overview. In the 112th Congress, a total of 52 bills and 
two resolutions were referred to the Committee on Indian 
Affairs for consideration. A total of 25 bills were reported or 
discharged by the Committee. Eighteen bills had no further 
action and seven bills became public laws. The Committee also 
reported the nominations of four Presidential appointees, all 
of whom the Senate subsequently confirmed. In addition, the 
Committee held a total of 44 hearings, including 36 oversight 
hearings. The Committee conducted eight legislative hearings on 
18 bills for numerous tribes. Finally, the Committee held 17 
roundtables and listening sessions.
    Throughout the 112th Congress, the Committee's work focused 
on the themes of cultural identity and tribal homelands. Within 
these themes, the legislative priorities for the Committee were 
S. 675, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 
2011, and S. 676, a bill to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to 
reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take 
land into trust for Indian tribes.
    Chairman Akaka continued to advocate for parity in Federal 
policy for Native Hawaiians in the 112th Congress. Since 2000, 
Chairman Akaka worked with the Native Hawaiian community and 
many others to develop the Native Hawaiian Government 
Reorganization Act. Chairman Akaka sponsored the Native 
Hawaiian Government Reorganization legislation in every 
Congress since 2000. During the 112th Congress, the Committee 
conducted outreach on S. 675 and subsequently streamlined the 
legislation.
    The Committee also sought to advance the tribal recognition 
bills for the Virginia Tribes, the Lumbee Tribe, and the Little 
Shell Tribe by reporting these three bills from the Committee. 
Following meetings with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 
the Department of the Interior, and the Indian Health Service, 
the Committee determined that the CBO scores for these bills 
were inflated and did not accurately reflect the actual outlays 
over the five-year period.
    Regarding S. 676, the Committee held extensive hearings on 
the impacts of the Supreme Court's decision in the case of 
Carcieri v. Salazar. In Carcieri v. Salazar, the Court decided 
that the Secretary of the Interior did not have the authority 
to take land into trust for the Narragansett Tribe under the 
Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) because the Tribe was not 
``under federal jurisdiction'' in 1934 when the IRA was 
enacted. Over the course of several hearings, the Committee 
found that the Supreme Court's Carcieri decision ignores dozens 
of Federal statutes, threatens public safety and tribal law 
enforcement, creates unequal treatment of Federally recognized 
tribes, is increasing Federal litigation, affects access to 
capital, creates barriers to economic development, and is 
killing tens of thousands of jobs.
    During the 112th Congress, the Committee was also actively 
involved in measures affecting American Indians, Alaska 
Natives, and Native Hawaiians through hearings, interactions 
with other Committees, and floor consideration. One measure 
referred to the Committee was included as an amendment with 
another legislative item on the floor of the Senate. In 
addition, Title VI of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 
contained a one-year reauthorization of the Special Diabetes 
Program for Indians. The two bills are as follows:

        1. S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 
        Reauthorization of 2012, which included S. 1763, Stand 
        Against Violence and Empower (SAVE) Native Women Act.
        2. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. (H.R. 8, 
        Pub. L. No. 112-240).

    B. Legislation Reported or Discharged and Enacted Into Law. 
Seven bills referred to the Committee were reported or 
discharged by the Committee and signed into law by the 
President, including:

        1. An Act to amend the Act titled ``An Act to 
        authorize the leasing of restricted Indian lands for 
        public, religious, educational, recreational, 
        residential, business, and other purposes requiring the 
        grant of long-term leases,'' approved August 9, 1955, 
        to provide for Indian tribes to enter into certain 
        leases without prior express approval from the 
        Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes. 
        (H.R. 205, HEARTH Act of 2012, Helping Expedite and 
        Advance Responsible Tribal Home Ownership Act of 2012, 
        Pub. L. No. 112-151).
        2. To provide for the use and distribution of the 
        funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, et al., 
        by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket 
        Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes. (H.R. 1272, 
        Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act 
        of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-179).
        3. To amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and 
        Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to 
        allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine 
        blood quantum requirement for membership in that tribe. 
        (H.R. 1560, Pub. L. No. 112-157).
        4. To take certain Federal lands in Mono County, 
        California, into trust for the benefit of the 
        Bridgeport Indian Colony. (H.R. 2467, Bridgeport Indian 
        Colony Land Trust, Health, and Economic Development Act 
        of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-212).
        5. To allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the 
        requirements for membership in that tribe. (H.R. 3319, 
        Pub. L. No. 112-214).
        6. Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer 
        Clarification Act of 2012. A bill to make technical 
        corrections to the legal description of certain land to 
        be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission 
        Indians, and for other purposes. (S. 3193, Pub. L. No. 
        112-232).
        7. To provide for the conveyance of certain property 
        from the United States to the Maniilaq Association 
        located in Kotzebue, Alaska. (H.R. 443, Pub. L. No: 
        112-262).

    C. Legislation Reported or Discharged Not Requiring 
Presidential Action. Two of the resolutions within the 
jurisdiction of the Committee were reported or discharged and 
passed by the Senate and did not require presidential action:

        1. A resolution recognizing National Native American 
        Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and 
        cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of 
        Native Americans to the United States. (S. Res. 329).
        2. A resolution recognizing National Native American 
        Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and 
        cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of 
        Native Americans to the United States. (S. Res. 561).

    D. Legislation Reported by the Committee. The legislative 
action of the Committee was conducted through nine business 
meetings to mark-up and report bills pending before the 
Committee. Eighteen bills referred to the Committee were 
reported by the Committee during the 112th Congress but were 
not enacted into law:

        1. A bill to reauthorize the programs of the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing 
        assistance for Native Hawaiians. (S. 65, Hawaiian 
        Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2011).
        2. A bill to authorize the Mescalero Apache Tribe to 
        lease adjudicated water rights. (S. 134, Mescalero 
        Apache Tribe Leasing Authorization Act).
        3. A bill to extend Federal recognition to the 
        Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian 
        Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the 
        Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, 
        and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. (S. 379, Indian Tribes 
        of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2011).
        4. A bill to extend the Federal recognition to the 
        Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and 
        for other purposes. (S. 546, Little Shell Tribe of 
        Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2011).
        5. A bill to provide the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami 
        and Flood Protection, and for other purposes. (S. 636).
        6. A bill to express the policy of the United States 
        regarding the United States relationship with Native 
        Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition 
        by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing 
        entity. (S. 675, Native Hawaiian Government 
        Reorganization Act of 2012).
        7. A bill to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to 
        reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior 
        to take land into trust for Indian tribes. (S. 676, 
        ``Carcieri-fix'').
        8. A bill to amend the Long-Term Leasing Act, and for 
        other purposes. (S. 703, HEARTH Act of 2011, Helping 
        Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership 
        Act of 2011).
        9. A bill to settle land claims within the Fort Hall 
        Reservation. (S. 1065, Blackfoot River Land Settlement 
        Act of 2011).
        10. A bill to provide for the recognition of the 
        Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and for other purposes. 
        (S. 1218, Lumbee Recognition Act).
        11. A bill to improve Indian education, and for other 
        purposes. (S. 1262, Native Culture, Language, and 
        Access for Success in Schools (CLASS) Act).
        12. A bill to amend the Indian Tribal Energy 
        Development and Self-Determination Act of 2005, and for 
        other purposes. (S. 1684, Indian Tribal Energy 
        Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 
        2011).
        13. A bill to decrease the incidence of violent crimes 
        against Indian women, to strengthen the capacity of 
        Indian tribes to exercise the sovereign authority of 
        Indian tribes to respond to violent crimes committed 
        against Indian women, and to ensure that perpetrators 
        of violent crimes committed against Indian women are 
        held accountable for that criminal behavior, and for 
        other purposes. (S. 1763, Stand Against Violence and 
        Empower (SAVE) Native Women Act).
        14. A bill to make technical amendment to the T'uf 
        Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act, and for other 
        purposes. (S. 2024, Sandia Pueblo Settlement Technical 
        Amendment Act).
        15. A bill to amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform 
        Act to extend the period of time provided to the Indian 
        Law and Order Commission to produce a required report, 
        and for other purposes. (S. 2090).
        16. A bill to deem the submission of certain claims to 
        an Indian Health Service contracting officer as timely. 
        (S. 2389).
        17. A bill to amend the Native American Programs Act 
        of 1974 to reauthorize a provision to ensure the 
        survival and continuing vitality of Native American 
        languages. (S. 3546).
        18. A bill to clarify certain provisions of the Native 
        American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994. 
        (S. 3548, Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments 
        Act of 2012).

    E. Legislation Given Active Consideration. The Committee 
gave active consideration to a variety of bills in the 112th 
Congress. The Committee held eight legislative hearings on 18 
bills addressing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the 
Native Culture, Language and Access for Success in Schools 
(CLASS) Act, tribal leasing reform, tribal energy development, 
tribal membership, Federal acknowledgment, trust funds, and 
land transfers. The Committee also held hearings on bills 
affecting specific tribes, including the Quileute Nation, 
Mescalero Apache Tribe, Blackfeet Nation, Navajo Nation, Little 
Shell Tribe, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of 
Grand Ronde, and Lytton Rancheria.
    F. Legislation not Reported out of Committee. One bill was 
ordered to be reported during the 112th Congress but was not 
reported or enacted into law:

        1. A bill to provide for equitable compensation to the 
        Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for 
        the use of tribal land for the production of hydropower 
        by the Grand Coulee Dam, and for other purposes. (S. 
        1345, Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane 
        Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation 
        Settlement Act).

    G. Legislation Referred to the Committee. Twenty-three 
bills referred to the Committee during the 112th Congress were 
not reported or enacted into law:

        1. To amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to 
        allow certain land to be used to generate income to 
        provide funding for academic programs, and for other 
        purposes. (H.R. 1556).
        2. To prohibit certain gaming activities on certain 
        Indian lands in Arizona. (H.R. 2938, Gila Bend Indian 
        Reservation Lands Replacement Clarification Act).
        3. A bill to establish a Native American Economic 
        Advisory Council, and for other purposes. (S. 61, 
        Native American Economic Advisory Council Act of 2011).
        4. A bill to amend the Native Hawaiian Health Care 
        Improvement Act to revise and extend that Act. (S. 66, 
        Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization 
        Act of 2011).
        5. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
        provide for health data regarding Native Hawaiians and 
        other Pacific Islanders. (S. 71, Native Hawaiian and 
        Other Pacific Islander Health Data Act of 2011).
        6. A bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to 
        make technical corrections, and for other purposes. (S. 
        356).
        7. A bill to modify the purposes and operation of 
        certain facilities of the Bureau of Reclamation to 
        implement the water rights compact among the State of 
        Montana, the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian 
        Reservation of Montana, and the United States, and for 
        other purposes. (S. 399, Blackfeet Water Rights 
        Settlement Act of 2011).
        8. A bill to amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to 
        modify a provision relating to gaming on land acquired 
        after October 17, 1988. (S. 771, Tribal Gaming 
        Eligibility Act).
        9. A bill to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act 
        to modify the date as of which certain tribal land of 
        the Lytton Rancheria of California is considered to be 
        held in trust and to provide for the conduct of certain 
        activities on the land. (S. 872).
        10. A bill to extend Federal recognition to the 
        Muscogee Nation of Florida. (S. 880, Muscogee Nation of 
        Florida Federal Recognition Act).
        11. A bill to provide for the addition of certain real 
        property to the reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the 
        State of Oregon. (S. 908).
        12. A bill to supplement State jurisdiction in Alaska 
        Native villages with Federal and tribal resources to 
        improve the quality of life in rural Alaska while 
        reducing domestic violence against Native women and 
        children and to reduce alcohol and drug abuse and for 
        other purposes. (S. 1192, Alaska Safe Families and 
        Villages Act of 2011).
        13. A bill to direct the Secretary of Commerce to 
        establish a demonstration program to adapt the lessons 
        of providing foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to 
        the provision of Federal economic development 
        assistance to certain similarly situated individuals, 
        and for other purposes. (S. 1293, Native American 
        Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2011).
        14. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain 
        property located in Anchorage, Alaska, from the United 
        States to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. 
        (S. 1298, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land 
        Transfer Act).
        15. A bill to amend the Act of March 1, 1933, to 
        transfer certain authority and resources to the Utah 
        Dineh Corporation, and for other purposes. (S. 1327).
        16. A bill to clarify the responsibilities of the 
        Secretary of the Interior in making a determination 
        whether to take off-reservation land into trust for 
        gaming purposes. (S. 1424, Off-Reservation Land 
        Acquisition Guidance Act).
        17. A bill to strengthen Indian education, and for 
        other purposes. (S. 1519, Building upon Unique Indian 
        Learning and Development Act).
        18. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain 
        property from the United States to the Maniilaq 
        Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska. (S. 1898).
        19. A bill to provide for the use and distribution of 
        judgment funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe 
        by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket 
        Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes. (S. 1739, 
        Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act 
        of 2011).
        20. A bill to approve the settlement of water rights 
        claims of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the 
        allottees of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe in the 
        State of Arizona, to authorize construction of 
        municipal water projects relating to the water rights 
        claims, to resolve litigation against the United States 
        concerning Colorado River operations affecting the 
        States of California, Arizona, and Nevada, and for 
        other purposes. (S. 2109, Navajo-Hopi Little Colorado 
        River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2012).
        21. A bill to provide for the settlement of the water 
        rights claims of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, and 
        for other purposes. (S. 3209, Gros Ventre and 
        Assiniboine Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community 
        Water Rights Settlement Act of 2012).
        22. A bill to help fulfill the Federal mandate to 
        provide higher educational opportunities for Native 
        Americans. (S. 3504, Native American Indian Education 
        Act of 2012).
        23. A bill to create equal footing for tribal economic 
        development. (S. 3654).

    G. Oversight activity. A substantial portion of the 
Committee's hearing and investigatory energy was devoted to 
carrying out its authority and responsibility to provide 
oversight of the executive branch's implementation of Federal 
Indian law and policy, and to investigate all matters 
pertaining to Indian affairs.
    During the 112th Congress, the Committee held a total of 36 
oversight hearings. The oversight hearings touched on a wide 
range of issues including emergency preparedness, tribal law 
enforcement and public safety, education, Internet 
infrastructure, sacred lands, Indian youth suicide, energy 
development, economic development, Federal recognition, gaming, 
Internet gaming, stereotypes and identity, taxation, the Indian 
Reorganization Act, climate change, Native veterans, 
telecommunications, probate reform, tribal transportation, job 
creation, and self-determination.
    In the area of gaming, the Committee held numerous 
oversight hearings on the regulation of the Indian Gaming 
Regulatory Act and the future of Internet gaming. As 
discussions about various Internet gaming proposals ensued, the 
Committee sought to ensure that tribal nations were a part of 
the dialogue by examining the potential impacts Internet gaming 
may have on tribal nations.
    Five field hearings were held on issues such as youth 
suicide, empowering tribal youth, tribal irrigation projects, 
economic development, and Native Hawaiian homeownership. These 
hearings took place in Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and Wyoming.
    The Committee also held two nomination hearings. The first 
was for three Presidential nominees for the Institute of 
American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development 
Board, and the second was for the Assistant Secretary of Indian 
Affairs. The Senate confirmed all of these nominations.
    In addition, the Committee held 17 roundtables and 
listening sessions which were led or moderated by the 
Committee's staff director. Each of the roundtables provided 
three hours of dialogue between committee staff, administration 
officials and representatives, tribal leaders, and interested 
parties. Topics included water rights, the environment, Indian 
education, Internet gaming, taxation, Federal acknowledgment, 
sacred lands, and tribal transportation. The roundtables were 
used to identify issues that may need oversight, and 
legislative or administrative attention. Many roundtables were 
followed up with oversight hearings and others led to the 
development of legislation.
    Finally, the Committee held five listening sessions on 
draft tribal energy legislation and draft Internet gaming 
legislation. Listening sessions on the draft Tribal Online 
Gaming Act were held at several locations, including the 
National Congress of American Indians conference in Sacramento, 
the United South and Eastern Tribes conference in Connecticut, 
and the National Indian Gaming Association's conference in 
Florida. The Committee also held a listening session on the 
draft tribal energy bill in Washington, D.C. Comments and ideas 
received at the listening sessions were used to strengthen and/
or modify the draft legislation. Approximately 1,000 tribal 
leaders, representatives of native organizations, and 
interested parties participated in the committee's roundtables 
and listening sessions.
                    IV. COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

                     112th Congress, First Session

    A. Committee Hearings, Business Meetings, Roundtables, and 
Listening Sessions
    February 16, 2011--Business Meeting to organize for the 
112th Congress by electing the Chairman and Vice Chairman of 
the Committee and to adopt the rules of the Committee and any 
other organizational business the Committee needs to consider.
    March 15, 2011--Oversight Hearing on the President's Fiscal 
Year 2012 Budget for Tribal Programs.
    April 7, 2011--Business Meeting on S. 675, the Native 
Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2011; and S. 676, a 
bill to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the 
authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into 
trust for Indian tribes.
    April 7, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Promise Fulfilled: The 
Role of the SBA 8(a) Program in Enhancing Economic Development 
in Indian Country.
    April 14, 2011--Legislative Hearing on S. 636, A bill to 
provide the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami and Flood Protection, 
and for other purposes; S. 703, the Helping Expedite and 
Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2011; and S. 
546, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act 
of 2011.
    April 19, 2011--Legislative Hearing on S. 1684, the Indian 
Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments 
of 2012.
    April 20, 2011--Oversight Field Hearing on The Wind River 
Irrigation Project-Issues Arising From and Contributing to 
Deferred Maintenance and Other Project Management Problems.
    April 28, 2011--Roundtable on Native Education.
    May 5, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Stolen Identities: The 
Impact of Racist Stereotypes on Indigenous People.
    May 12, 2011--Roundtable on Tribal Transportation.
    May 19, 2011--Listening Session on Tribal Energy Draft 
Bill.
    May 26, 2011--Oversight Hearing on In Our Way: Expanding 
the Success of Native Language & Culture-Based Education.
    June 9, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Setting the Standard: 
Domestic Policy Implications of the UN Declaration on the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
    June 16, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Finding Our Way Home: 
Achieving the Policy Goals of NAGPRA.
    June 23, 2011--Oversight Hearing on The Indian 
Reorganization Act-75 Years Later: Renewing our Commitment to 
Restore Tribal Homelands and Promote Self-Determination.
    June 28, 2011--Roundtable on Channeling the Discourse: 
Examining the Future of Water in Indian Country.
    June 30, 2011--Legislative Hearing on S. 1262, the Native 
Culture, Language, and Access for Success in Schools (CLASS) 
Act.
    July 14, 2011--Business Meeting to consider the Institute 
of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts 
Development Board Nominations.
    July 14, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Native Women: 
Protecting, Shielding, and Safeguarding Our Sisters, Mothers, 
and Daughters.
    July 19, 2011--Roundtable on Taxation: Raising Revenues for 
our Future.
    July 21, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Facing Floods and 
Fires: Emergency Preparedness for Natural Disasters in Native 
Communities.
    July 26, 2011--Roundtable on the Future of Internet Gaming: 
What's at Stake for Tribes?
    July 28, 2011--Business Meeting on S. 546, A bill to extend 
the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa 
Indians of Montana, and for other purposes; S. 379, A bill to 
extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, 
the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper 
Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan 
Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe; S. 1218, A bill 
to provide for the recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North 
Carolina, and for other purposes; S. 703, A bill to amend the 
Long-Term Leasing Act, and for other purposes; and S. 636, A 
bill to provide the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami and Flood 
Protection, and for other purposes.
    July 28, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Enforcing the Indian 
Gaming Regulatory Act: The Role of the National Indian Gaming 
Commission and Tribes as Regulators.
    August 4, 2011--Oversight Hearing on The American Indian 
Probate Reform Act: Empowering Indian Land Owners.
    August 9, 2011--Oversight Field Hearing on Empowering 
Native Youth to Reclaim their Future.
    August 17, 2011--Oversight Field Hearing on Strengthening 
Self-Sufficiency: Overcoming Barriers to Economic Development 
in Native Communities.
    August 22, 2011--Roundtable on Building a Financial 
Foundation: Access to Capital in Native Communities.
    September 8, 2011--Roundtable on Building Secure Homelands: 
Housing and Infrastructure Development in Native Communities.
    September 15, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Tribal 
Transportation: Paving the Way for Jobs, Infrastructure, and 
Safety in Native Communities.
    September 22, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Tribal Law and 
Order Act One Year Later: Have We Improved Public Safety and 
Justice Throughout Indian Country?
    October 6, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Internet 
Infrastructure in Native Communities: Equal Access to E-
Commerce, Jobs and the Global Marketplace.
    October 13, 2011--Oversight Hearing on the Carcieri Crisis: 
The Ripple Effect on Jobs, Economic Development and Public 
Safety in Indian Country.
    October 20, 2011--Business Meeting to consider S. 1262, the 
Native Culture, Language, and Access for Success in Schools 
Act.
    October 20, 2011--Legislative Hearing on S. 134, Mescalero 
Apache Tribe Leasing Authorization Act; S. 399, Blackfeet Water 
Rights Settlement Act of 2011; S. 1327, A bill to amend the Act 
of March 1, 1933, to transfer certain authority and resources 
to the Utah Dineh Corporation, and for other purposes; and S. 
1345, Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand 
Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act.
    October 22, 2011--Oversight Field Hearing on H.O.P.E. for 
the Future: Helping Our People Engage to Protect Our Youth.
    October 31, 2011--Listening Session on Pending Legislation.
    November 1, 2011--Listening Session on Senate Committee on 
Indian Affairs Meetings with Tribal Leaders.
    November 10, 2011--Legislative Hearing on S. 1763, Stand 
Against Violence and Empower (SAVE) Native Women Act; S. 872, 
Lytton Rancheria; and S. 1192, AK Safe Families and Villages 
Act
    November 17, 2011--Oversight Hearing on the Future of 
Internet Gaming: What's at Stake for Tribes.
    December 1, 2011--Oversight Hearing on Deficit Reduction 
and Job Creation: Regulatory Reform in Indian Country.
    December 8, 2011--Business Meeting on S. 1763, Stand 
Against Violence and Empower (SAVE) Native Women Act; and S. 
1065, the Blackfoot River Land Settlement Act.
    December 8, 2011--Oversight Hearing on State and Federal 
Tax Policy: Building New Markets Indian Country.

                     112th Congress, Second Session

    B. Committee Hearings, Business Meetings, Roundtables, and 
Listening Sessions
    February 2, 2012--Legislative Hearing on S. 1739, A bill to 
provide for the use and distribution of judgment funds awarded 
to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe by the United States Court of 
Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other 
purposes; S. 356, A bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation 
Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes; and 
S. 908, A bill to provide for the addition of certain real 
property to the reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the State of 
Oregon.
    February 9, 2012--Oversight Hearing on the U.S. Department 
of Justice Opinion on Internet Gaming: What's at Stake for 
Tribes.
    February 16, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Energy Development 
in Indian Country
    March 1, 2012--Roundtable on Protecting our Ancestral 
Remains, Religious Freedoms, and Sacred Places.
    March 8, 2012--Oversight Hearing on the President's Fiscal 
Year 2013 Budget for Native Programs.
    March 15, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Indian Water Rights: 
Promoting the Negotiation and Implementation of Water 
Settlements in Indian Country.
    March 22, 2012--Legislative Hearing on S. 1898, A bill to 
provide for the conveyance of certain property from the United 
States to the Maniilaq Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska; 
and H.R. 1560, A bill to amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and 
Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to 
allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood 
quantum requirements for membership in that tribe.
    March 29, 2012--Roundtable on Stewards of our Homelands: 
The Role of Native Peoples in Environmental Protection.
    April 10, 2012--Roundtable on Community Development on the 
Hawaiian Home Lands: Understanding the Challenges and 
Opportunities.
    April 13, 2012--Legislative Field Hearing on S. 65, the 
Hawaiian Homeownership Act of 2011.
    April 19, 2012--Legislative Hearing on S. 1684, Indian 
Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments 
of 2011.
    April 24, 2012--Roundtable on Protecting our Fish and 
Wildlife Resources.
    April 26, 2012--Roundtable on Federal Recognition: 
Political and Legal Relationship between Governments.
    May 17, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Fulfilling the Federal 
Trust Responsibility: The Foundation of the Government-to-
Government Relationship.
    May 19, 2012--Listening Session on the Tribal Energy Draft 
Bill.
    May 24, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Programs and Services 
for Native Veterans.
    June 7, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Universal Service Fund 
Reform: Ensuring a Sustainable and Connected Future for Native 
Communities.
    June 14, 2012--Oversight Hearing on New Tax Burdens on 
Tribal Self-Determination.
    June 28, 2012--Business Meeting on H.R. 443, To provide for 
the conveyance of certain property from the United States to 
the Maniilaq Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska; H.R. 
1560, To amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and 
Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to allow the 
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum 
requirement for membership in that tribe; H.R. 1272, To provide 
for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, et al., by the United States Court of 
Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other 
purposes; S. 134, A bill to authorize the Mescalero Apache 
Tribe to lease adjudicated water rights; S. 1065, A bill to 
settle land claims within the Fort Hall Reservation; S. 2389, A 
bill to deem the submission of certain claims to an Indian 
Health Service contracting officer as timely; and S. 3193, A 
bill to make technical corrections to the legal description of 
certain land to be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission 
Indians, and for other purposes.
    July 12, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Federal Recognition: 
Political and Legal Relationship between Governments.
    July 19, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Impacts of 
Environmental Changes on Treaty Rights, Traditional Lifestyles, 
and Tribal Homelands.
    July 26, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Regulation of Tribal 
Gaming: From Brick & Mortar to the Internet.
    September 13, 2012--Business Meeting on S. 675, the Native 
Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2011; S. 1345, the 
Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand 
Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act; and S. 1684, 
the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act 
Amendments of 2011.
    September 13, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Addressing the 
Costly Administrative Burdens and Negative Impacts of the 
Carcieri and Patchak Decisions.
    September 14, 2012--Nomination Hearing on the President's 
Nomination of Kevin K. Washburn to be Assistant Secretary-
Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
    September 18, 2012--Listening Session on Draft Tribal 
Online Gaming Act.
    September 20, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Advancing the 
Federal-Tribal Relationship through Self-Governance and Self-
Determination.
    September 20, 2012--Business Meeting on S. 65, A bill to 
reauthorize the programs of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development for housing assistance for Native Hawaiians; S. 
2024, A bill to make technical amendment to the T'uf Shur Bien 
Preservation Trust Area Act, and for other purposes; S. 3546, 
Esther Martinez Language Preservation Act Reauthorization; S. 
3548, To clarify certain provisions of the Native American 
Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994; and H.R. 2467, To 
take certain Federal lands in Mono County, California, into 
trust for the benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony.
    October 24, 2012--Listening Session on Draft Tribal Online 
Gaming Act.
    November 29, 2012--Oversight Hearing on Reclaiming Our 
Image and Identity for the Next Seven Generations.

                                  
