United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-11-02 monographic deposited born digital 54 p. GA 1.13:GAO-02-49 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49 P0b002ee180398b89 f:d0249 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49 GAO-02-49 Federal aid programs Indian affairs legislation Intergovernmental relations HHS Administration for Native American's Program Other Written Product A02067

Federal recognition enables Indian tribes to participate in billion dollar federal assistance programs and can result in the granting of significant rights as sovereign entities--including exemptions from state and local jurisdiction and the ability to establish casino gambling operations. The significance of these benefits and rights has increased since the inception of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) regulatory process for federal recognition in 1978. The Indian gambling industry has flourished since the enactment of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, with 193 tribes generating close to $10 billion in annual revenues in 1999 from their gambling operations. Because of weaknesses in the recognition process, the basis for BIA's tribal recognition decisions is not always clear and the length of time involved can be substantial. Although there are set criteria that petitioning tribes must meet to be granted recognition, there is no clear guidance that explains how to interpret key aspects of the criteria. Also, the regulatory process is not equipped to respond in a timely manner. Although workload has increased with more detailed petitions ready for evaluation and increased interest from third parties, the number of staff assigned to evaluate the petitions has decreased by about 35 percent from its peak in 1993. Just as important, the process lacks effective procedures for promptly addressing the increased workload. In particular, the process does not impose effective timelines that create a sense of urgency, and procedures for providing information to interested third parties are ineffective. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49.pdf GAO-02-49 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-49 Other Written Product GAO-02-49; Indian Issues: Improvements Needed in Tribal Recognition Process; Federal aid programs Indian affairs legislation Intergovernmental relations HHS Administration for Native American's Program Title 25 Section 2701 Title 25 Section 461 25 U.S.C. 2701 25 U.S.C. 461 Public Law 92-470 Public Law 95-281 Public Law 95-375 Public Law 96-420 Public Law 97-391 Public Law 97-429 Public Law 98-134 Public Law 100-89 Public Law 100-420 Public Law 101-42 Public Law 102-171 Public Law 103-323 Public Law 103-324 Public Law 103-454 Public Law 106-568