Barrasso Indian Bill Moves Through Committee

Sen. John Barrasso is moving a bill to the floor of Congress to help Indian Tribes to develop natural resources on reservations with more independence.

Here is his press release...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, praised the Committee’s passage of the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2015 (S. 209) and the Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2015 (S. 286).

“I’m pleased the Committee wasted no time in passing bipartisan legislation that will help improve the lives of people throughout Indian Country,” said Chairman Barrasso. “We are now one step closer to empowering tribes and breaking down barriers to tribal energy development. Our legislation will help increase economic development, create jobs and give tribes the flexibility they need to tailor Federal programs to best meet the needs of their local communities.”

Background on S. 209 the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2015:

S. 209 will give Indian tribes more tools to develop their energy resources and to remove unnecessary barriers to economic development. The bill includes a number of amendments to the process established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation cuts red tape and will facilitate tribal development of their own resources. It also streamlines the process for approving “tribal energy resource agreements” (TERAs) and make the TERA approval process more predictable for Indian tribes.

In addition to Committee Vice Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT), S. 209 is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John McCain (R-AZ), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

Background on S. 286 the Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2015:

S. 286 amends the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and streamlines the self-governance process, making it easier and more efficient for tribes to carry out Federal programs available to them. The bill serves to reduce Federal bureaucracy and promotes accountability by maintaining requirements that Indian tribes must demonstrate a higher level of responsible governance and administration. The bill has been supported by tribes across the country and the Administration.

In addition to Committee Vice Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT), S. 286 is co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mike Crapo (R-ID).