WASHINGTON, May 25 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies released the following testimony by Aurene Martin, board treasurer for the National Indian Child Welfare Association, from a public witness hearing dated May 8, 2024, on funding recommendations for Bureau of Indian Affairs programs: * * * The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) is a national American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) nonprofit organization. NICWA has been a leader  more

WASHINGTON, May 25 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies released the following written testimony by Tesia Zientek, president of the National Indian Education Association, from a public witness hearing dated May 8, 2024, on fiscal 2025 funding for the Bureau of Indian Education and the Bureau of Indian Affairs: * * * On behalf of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), the oldest and most inclusive organization founded to advance compr  more

WASHINGTON, May 25 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies released the following testimony by National Indian Health Board Chairman William F. Smith from a public witness hearing dated May 8, 2024, on the fiscal 2025 funding request for the Indian Health Service: * * * Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Pingree, and the distinguished members of this Subcommittee, on behalf of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and the 574 sovereign federally r  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 (TNSres) -- Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola, D-Alaska, issued the following news release on May 22, 2024: Today, Representative Mary Peltola (AK-AL) introduced a pair of bills to restrict bottom trawling and reduce bycatch - the bipartisan Bycatch Reduction and Mitigation Act and the Bottom Trawl Clarity Act. "Since coming to Congress, I've worked to make fish and fishing policy the issue of national importance it deserves to be," said Rep. Peltola. "I know fish, I know Alaska, an  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined her Senate colleagues in requesting robust funding for tribal law enforcement programs in the FY2025 government funding bill. The bipartisan letter was sent to Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. "As you consider fun  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation that would expand transportation access for veterans with disabilities. S.4372, the Deliver for Veterans Act, would expand a Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program to cover shipping costs for disabled veterans who require modified vehicles for transportation. "Disabled veterans deserve access to every benefit they   more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Rick Scott joined Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and their Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) demanding the repayment of nearly $11 million in unjustified bonuses that were distributed to senior executives within the VA and calling for the immediate dismissal of the responsible officials. The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala  more

WASHINGTON, May 25 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on May 23, 2024: Yesterday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led an oversight hearing titled, "Examining Public Safety & Justice Resources in Native Communities." "One of our fundamental trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nati  more

WASHINGTON, May 24 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following statement regarding the National Marine Fisheries Services' (NMFS) determination that a listing of king salmon in the Gulf of Alaska as "threatened or endangered" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) "may be warranted" in response to a petition filed by the Seattle-based Wild Fish Conservancy. "My team and I have been very engaged on this misguide  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), delivered a speech last week championing President Ronald Reagan's foreign policy of peace through strength and its enduring lessons as the world enters a "new era of authoritarian aggression." Sen. Sullivan made the remarks at IRI's Freedom Award celebration, which honored Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Nicaragua for his ded  more

WASHINGTON, May 24 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), introduced legislation yesterday barring the United States from cooperating with or funding the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the ICC's widely-condemned decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. The legislation also prohibits economic support funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961from be  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today is convening a roundtable meeting with Alaska community and fisheries leaders, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and other senior federal officials to discuss how the global seafood market crisis is impacting Alaska businesses, coastal communities, and fishermen. The discussion will focus on federal policy initiatives that can improve the competitive position of U.S.-produ  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and , co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus, honored the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service, which will be observed on May 24, 2024. The institution as it is organized today was established through the Rogers Act of 1924, which consolidated and reorganized the existing Diplomatic and Consular Ser  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: May 23, 2024 Van Hollen, Sullivan Celebrate 100 Years of the U.S. Foreign Service Ahead of Centennial Anniversary Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus, honored the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service, which will be observed on May 24, 2024. The institution as it is organized today was es  more