[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE NEVADA INDIAN COMMISSION

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of an important entity to our great State--the Nevada 
Indian Commission. I am pleased to see this commission, which 
contributes so much in support of Nevada's Native American community, 
reach this significant milestone.
  The Nevada Indian Commission has been a positive force in communities 
across our State. The commission continues to serve as a forum for 
Nevada's Native American population, bringing important issues 
affecting this community to light. I am grateful to have the Nevada 
Indian Commission serving as an important liaison between Nevada's 27 
tribal communities and our State's government.
  The Nevada Indian Commission was established in 1965 as a means to 
maintain a positive quality of life for our State's Native Americans. 
Those that serve on the commission work to bring greater awareness of 
Nevada's many tribes' cultures, values, and customs. The commission 
devotes countless hours to improving education, employment, heath, 
well-being, and socioeconomic status by advocating on behalf of 
Nevada's Native Americans, while communicating with local officials. 
The commission has five board members working to strengthen economic 
opportunity and community development. I am thankful for their 
leadership and for the great things they are doing for this community.
  The Federal Government has unique and important responsibilities to 
tribes and their people. That responsibility is something I take 
seriously as one of Nevada's Senators, which is why I have supported 
policies in Congress focused on promoting tribal self-governance and 
self-determination. Just recently, the Senate passed a resolution 
recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month. As a 
proud original cosponsor of this resolution, I was pleased to see it 
pass to celebrate the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and 
their contributions to the United States and Nevada.
  For the past 50 years, the Nevada Indian Commission has proven its 
unwavering dedication to our state. The hard work of those that have 
served this Commission has greatly contributed to the positive impact 
the Native American community has had across Nevada. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring the Nevada Indian Commission on its 
50th anniversary and thanking the commission for all it does for the 
Silver State.

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