Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 410 (Rep. Begich), “Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025”; H.R. 412 (Rep. Bergman), To authorize the Bay Mills Indian Community of the State of Michigan to convey land and interests in land owned by the Tribe; H.R. 504 (Rep. Gimenez), “Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act”; and H.R. 741 (Rep. Stanton), “Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025”.

House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs

2025-02-05

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs marked its first hearing for the 119th Congress, convened to discuss four legislative bills. The bills aim to address critical issues including land allotments for Alaska Native veterans, tribal land management rights, the protection of a Miccosukee tribal camp, and the elevation of the Indian Health Service director position. Discussions highlighted the importance of upholding federal trust responsibilities and supporting tribal self-determination across various sectors [ 00:23:12 ]

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Themes

Alaska Native Veterans' Land Allotment Extension (H.R. 410)

This legislation seeks to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program by an additional five years [ 00:24:25 ]

. The program, established in 2019, aims to fulfill promises made to Alaska Native veterans who were previously unable to apply for land allotments due to their military service [ 00:24:28 ] . Currently, the program is set to expire in December 2025, with many applications still in process and addresses needed for eligible veterans [ 00:24:36 ] . Witnesses noted that a "slow roll" in processing and land availability issues have delayed conveyances, resulting in only 18 out of 2,000 eligible veterans receiving their allotments [ 00:39:00 ] . It was emphasized that lands offered were often far from veterans' homes, lacking cultural ties, which deterred applications [ 01:32:18 ] . Recent executive orders have reopened lands for selection, making the extension crucial to ensure veterans can claim their rightful allotments closer to their communities [ 00:39:10 ] .

Bay Mills Indian Community Land Management (H.R. 412)

This bill would authorize the Bay Mills Indian Community to sell, transfer, lease, or convey its fee simple lands without needing congressional approval, thereby exempting them from the Non-Intercourse Act [ 00:25:06 ]

[ 00:53:13 ] . The Non-Intercourse Act, while intended to protect tribes, has been interpreted by title insurance companies to apply to fee simple tribal lands, leading to a refusal to provide title insurance [ 00:25:22 ] [ 00:25:31 ] . This bureaucratic hurdle has significantly encumbered economic development, housing, and job creation within the Bay Mills Indian Community, as transactions fail without title insurance [ 00:25:38 ] . The tribe has been attempting to resolve this issue for decades, facing significant financial losses and an inability to utilize land productively [ 01:10:20 ] . The legislation is supported by the Department of Interior and follows precedents set by similar exemptions granted to other tribes, ensuring self-determination and equal rights [ 00:25:50 ] .

Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments (H.R. 504)

This legislation proposes to add the Osceola Camp to the Miccosukee Tribe's reserved area and mandate the Secretary of the Interior to protect its structures from flooding [ 00:26:14 ]

. The Osceola Camp is a historically and culturally significant tribal village within the Everglades that was not included in the original 1998 Miccosukee Reserved Area Act [ 00:26:26 ] . Its exclusion leaves it subject to a special use permit and vulnerable to increasing flooding, particularly from Everglades restoration projects [ 00:26:26 ] [ 01:35:13 ] . Incorporating the camp into the reserved area would grant the tribe authority over the village, allowing them to prevent flooding, preserve infrastructure, and ensure consistent legal frameworks and access to tribal services [ 00:26:32 ] . The Miccosukee Tribe has been a vital steward of the Everglades, and the bill supports their self-governance and traditional way of life .

Indian Health Service Elevation (H.R. 741)

The "Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025" seeks to elevate the Indian Health Service (IHS) director position to an Assistant Secretary within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [ 00:26:37 ]

. Proponents argue this would bring greater attention and focus to health issues in Indian Country, which is chronically underfunded, leading to significant health disparities and lower life expectancy [ 00:26:42 ] . The current director lacks certain authorities, such as pay and hiring, crucial for employee recruitment and retention, which an Assistant Secretary would possess . Elevating the position would also provide a direct line of communication to the HHS Secretary, allowing for better coordination of resources across agencies and a more strategic approach to Indian health matters [ 01:07:42 ] . This is a long-standing request from tribal leaders and has historical bipartisan support, with previous attempts by Senator John McCain .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a largely bipartisan and collaborative tone, with multiple members emphasizing the subcommittee's history of working together regardless of political affiliation . There was strong consensus on the need to address historic injustices and uphold trust responsibilities to Indian Country . Several members expressed significant concern over recent executive actions that threatened tribal funding, underscoring the sovereignty of tribal nations and the critical impact such actions have on essential services . Gratitude was extended to the witnesses for their travel and testimony, as well as to Native American veterans for their patriotism and service [ 00:48:38 ]

. The overall atmosphere was one of earnest problem-solving and a shared commitment to advancing legislation that benefits tribal communities .

Participants

Transcript

Good morning, everyone.  The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will come to order.  Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess of the subcommittee at any time.  The subcommittee is meeting today to hear testimony on four bills that are before us.  Under Committee Rule 4F, any oral opening statements at hearings are limited to the chairman and the ranking minority member.   I therefore ask unanimous consent that all other members' opening statements be made part of the hearing record if they are submitted in accordance with Committee Rule 3-0.  Without objection, so ordered.  I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Alaska, Mr. Begich, the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Soto, the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Jimenez, and the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Stanton, be allowed to sit and participate in today's hearing.  Without objection, so ordered.   I will now recognize myself for an opening statement.  Welcome, everyone, to the first hearing for the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs for the 119th Congress.  I'm honored to serve as the new chairman of the subcommittee, and I look forward to working with our American Indian, Alaska Native, and insular partners.  The subcommittee is meeting today to discuss four bills.  First on our agenda is H.R. 410,   the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025, sponsored by Congressman Begich.  This legislation would extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program for an additional five years.  This program was authorized in 2019 with the intent to fulfill the promise of the Alaska Native Allotment Act to certain Alaska Native veterans.  Currently, the program is set to expire on December 29th, 2025.   Data from the Bureau of Land Management shows that approximately 378 applications are currently in process and that the agency still needs addresses for approximately 150 eligible veterans.
Extending this program another five years is a common sense solution to ensure effective program administration.  Second, we have H.R.  412, sponsored by Congressman Bergman, which would authorize the Bay Mills Indian community to sell, transfer, lease, encumber, or otherwise convey lands.   that the tribe owns in fee simple without needing congressional approval.  This would exempt land the tribe owns in fee simple from the limitations imposed by the Non-Intercourse Act.  While the Non-Intercourse Act was initially enacted to protect tribes from further loss of land, in recent years, the law has generally not interfered with the ability of a tribe to buy, sell, or lease land that it owns in fee simple.  However, in some instances, title insurance companies have interpreted the act to apply to fee simple real estate   is owned by the tribes and have refused to provide title insurance, which has encumbered economic development and job creation in those tribal communities.  The Bay Mills Indian community seeks their own individual exemption to provide clarity on their land ownership.  Several other tribes in the United States, including in Michigan, have sought and received similar exemptions.  Third, we have H.R.  504 sponsored by Congressman Jimenez.   the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act, which adds the Osceola Camp to the tribe's reserved area.  The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to take actions to protect the structures within the camp from flooding.  In 1998, Congress passed the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, or MRAA, to authorize the tribe's permanent residency in the Everglades while maintaining the right of the federal government to engage in restoration and protection of the area.   However, the MRAA did not include the Osceola Camp, which is still subject to a special use permit.  By incorporating the camp into the tribe's reserved area, the tribe will have the authority over the village area and be able to work to prevent flooding and preserve village infrastructure.  Our final bill is HR 741, Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025, sponsored by Congressman Stanton.