Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 411 (Rep. Bergman), “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025” H.R. 2916 (Rep. Stefanik), To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes H.R. 3620 (Rep. Begich), “Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act” H.R. 3670 (Rep. Stansbury), “IHS Provider Expansion Act”
House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs
2025-06-11
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Source: Congress.gov
Participants
Transcript
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Mr. Darrell LaRoche
The subcommittee is meeting today to hear testimony on the four bills 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 New Mexico, Ms. Stansberry, the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Bergman, and the gentleman from New York, Ms. Stefanik, be allowed to sit and participate in today's hearing. Without objection, so ordered. I will now recognize myself for an opening statement. Today, our subcommittee is meeting to discuss four bills. The first is H.R. 411, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Birdman of Michigan. This bill would resolve longstanding claims by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community related to the transfer of tribal lands to the state of Michigan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These lands were transferred without consent or compensation under the Swamp Land Act of 1850 and the Canal Land Act of 1852. statutes that were never intended to override tribal treaties. H.R. 411 provides for a monetary settlement to Keweenaw Bay, which would extinguish their claims and provide clear title for current landowners. This bill is the product of collaboration and support from the tribe as well as community stakeholders. Our second bill is H.R. 2916, a bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the agreement of settlement and compromise to resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk land claim in the State of New York introduced by Representative Stefanik of New York. This agreement resolves the land claim dispute between the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, the State of New York, St.
Lawrence and Franklin Counties, and the New York State Power Authority. This agreement requires congressional approval before decades of uncertainty can be reconciled. It returns 3,500 acres of land to reservation status and allows the St. Regis Mohawk tribe to acquire up to 14,000 more acres from willing sellers. It also provides tuition waivers for all Akwesasne Mohawk students who attend a State University of New York institution, and the tribe will be given preferred electricity rates from the New York Power Authority. Of note, the settlement does not require any federal monetary contribution. Our third bill is H.R. 3620, the South Central Foundation Land Transfer Act, sponsored by Representative Begich of Alaska. For over three decades, South Central Foundation, an Alaska native-owned nonprofit healthcare organization, has operated Quiana Clubhouse, a behavioral health center providing services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. The center operates on a parcel of land in Anchorage, Alaska, previously occupied by the CDC. Because the land is owned by the federal government, the South Central Foundation cannot modernize or replace Quayana Clubhouse despite the clear need to do so. HR 3620 would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transfer ownership of this parcel of land to South Central. With full community support and local rezoning already complete, this bill would remove the final bureaucratic red tape and allow South Central to begin renovations. This subcommittee has time and time again heard concerns with healthcare throughout Indian country. So I'm happy to see a homegrown solution come before us. The final bill our subcommittee is considering today is HR 3670, the IHS Provider Expansion Act sponsored by Representative Stansbury of New Mexico. This bill would create a new permanent office of graduate medical education within the Indian Health Service and authorize $4 million per year to launch and operate the office.
Bill proponents argue that establishing this office would develop residency opportunities within IHS facilities that could help address chronic provider shortages. I have, however, heard some concerns surrounding the lack of a clear implementation plan and the long-term sustainability of the office absent an exponential growth in appropriations. I want to thank our witnesses for being with us today, and I look forward to today's conversation. At this time, the chair will recognize the ranking minority member for any statement.
Thank you, Chair Hurd. I also want to thank and recognize Vincent Hurd for joining us here today. Hello, Vincent.
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