Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Handles all Senate bills on Indian affairs, including tribal lands and the U.S. government's duties to tribes. It also covers Indian health care, education and loan programs as well as tribal claims against the United States.
Handles all Senate bills on Indian affairs, including tribal lands, Indian health care, education and claims against the U.S.
WHAT IT DECIDES
Tribal landsFederal trust dutiesIndian health careIndian educationTribal claimsLoan programs
Tribal landsFederal trust dutiesIndian health careIndian educationTribal claimsLoan programs
ITS RECORD THIS CONGRESS
89 bills sent here. 40 came out.89 bills in. 40 came out.
REFERRED89
CAME OUT45%40
PASSED THE SENATE53%21
BECAME LAW14%3
45% came out, against a Senate average of 12%.
REFERRED
89
THIS CONGRESS
CAME OUT
40
45% OF PREVIOUS
PASSED THE SENATE
21
53% OF PREVIOUS
BECAME LAW
3
14% OF PREVIOUS
Bills can be sent to more than one committee. “Came out” means this committee voted to report it or was discharged from it, or the full Senate passed it.
BILLS WAITING HERE · 40
What the chair hasn’t taken up yetNot taken up yet
S. 5440 · SENT SEP 171 COSPONSORSS. 5440SENT SEP 17Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act of 2026TL;DR Federal land can be placed in trust for a tribe, changing who administers it and which rules apply. This bill would transfer land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and make it part of the Tribe’s reservation. It would preserve public recreation subject to exceptions, set access and forest-management rules, and prohibit gaming on the land.Jeff MerkleyD-ORJeff MerkleyD-OR1 COSPONSORS. 5299 · SENT AUG 61 COSPONSORSS. 5299SENT AUG 6Native Language Educators in Classrooms ActTL;DR Head Start programs provide early learning and family services, and staff qualifications affect who can teach in their classrooms. The bill would set separate credential and education-program options for staff in Indian Head Start and Indian Early Head Start. Indian Head Start staff hired while enrolled would have to complete their program within 2 years.Martin HeinrichD-NMMartin HeinrichD-NM1 COSPONSORS. 4976 · SENT JUL 141 COSPONSORSS. 4976SENT JUL 14Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2026TL;DR Native children and families may need help from multiple systems, including health care, education, housing, and justice. The bill would expand a Tribal family-services model and add programs, research, studies, and advisory groups across those areas. It also covers nutrition, workforce, and education initiatives.Lisa MurkowskiR-AKLisa MurkowskiR-AK1 COSPONSORS. 4890 · SENT JUN 241 COSPONSORSS. 4890SENT JUN 24Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026TL;DR Indian water-rights settlements can require the federal government to meet obligations over time. This bill would create two accounts with recurring Treasury deposits to support obligations under specified settlements and other settlements approved by Congress. It would let the Interior Secretary set transfer amounts and timing, and change a funding rule for a White Mountain Apache provision.Ben Ray LujánD-NMBen Ray LujánD-NM1 COSPONSORS. 4869 · SENT JUN 231 COSPONSORSS. 4869SENT JUN 23Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026TL;DR Federal support for Bureau-funded schools is distributed through a funding formula. The bill would require studies of how to update that formula, better account for school needs and staff pay, and identify potential revenue sources. It would also require a report with recommendations for improving the formula.Martin HeinrichD-NMMartin HeinrichD-NM1 COSPONSOR
MEMBERS · 11
In seniority order, so you can see who’s next in lineBy seniority, so you see who’s next in line
REPUBLICANS6 SEATS
1Lisa MurkowskiAKCHAIR2John HoevenND3Steve DainesMTRETIRING4Mike RoundsSD5Jerry MoranKS6Alan ArmstrongOKNOT RUNNINGDEMOCRATS5 SEATS
1Brian SchatzHIVICE CHAIR2Maria CantwellWA3Catherine Cortez MastoNV4Tina SmithMNRETIRING5Ben Ray LujánNMWHERE THEY’RE FROM11 STATES
AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Darker means more members. 11 states have 1 each.
WHAT IT HANDLES
Mostly tribal affairs
Tribal affairs8697%
Public lands and resources22.2%
Other11.1%
HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
When it meets
12
hearings this Congress
7
markups
A markup is where members amend a bill and vote to send it to the floor.
Nothing scheduled yet. Committees post meetings about a week ahead.
ALL IN THE HEARINGS HUB →