Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S.1397, S.3168, S.3308, S.3443, S.3773 & S.3789 Wednesday, March 23 2022 – 02:30 PM Location: Dirksen Room Number: 628

On Wednesday, March 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. HT, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds legislative hearing to receive testimony on six bills.

S.1397, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021. The bill ensures that tribal health authorities enjoy access to the same public health data as state governments. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.3841, a companion version of the bill, on June 23, 2021.

S.3168, a bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010. The bill ensures that the White Mountain Apache Tribe can utilize its already enacted water rights settlement to complete a water project on the Fort Apache Reservation in the state of Arizona.

S.3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021. The bill ensures that the Colorado River Indian Tribes can utilize its previously ratified water rights from the Colorado River by leasing or allocating them to other entities in Arizona.

S.3443, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Recognition Act. The bill extends federal recognition to the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, a group in Alabama that was previously denied acknowledgement through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

S.3773, a bill to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in the state of Washington. Similar bills have been enacted for other Indian nations.

S.3789, a bill to amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, also known as the NATIVE Act. The NATIVE Act requires federal agencies to update their existing management plans and tourism strategies to include American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

Witness List PANEL 1 The Honorable Bryan Newland Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C.

Mr. Marvin Figueroa Director, Intergovernmental and External Affairs Department of Health and Human Services Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Gwendena Lee-Gatewood Chairwoman White Mountain Apache Tribe Whiteriver, Arizona

The Honorable Amelia Flores Chairwoman Colorado River Indian Tribes Parker, Arizona

The Honorable Harry Pickernell, Sr. Chairman Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Oakville, Washington

The Honorable Lebaron Byrd Chief MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Mt. Vernon, Alabama

Dr. Darin Prescott Director Health and Clinic CEO Lower Sioux Indian Community and Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board Morton, Minnesota

Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/legislative-hearing-receive-testimony-s-1397-s-3168-s-3308-s-3443-s-3773-s-3789