Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Legislative Hearing titled “Justice and Safety for Native Children: Examining Title II of the Draft Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act”

Date: January 28, 2026

Time: 2:30 PM

Location: Dirksen

Room: 628

Witnesses

Panel 1

The Honorable Lonna Jackson-Street

Chairwoman

Spirit Lake Tribal Council

Fort Totten, ND

The Honorable Joan Johnson

Council Member representing Gros Ventre At Large

Fort Belknap Indian Community

Harlem, MT

Ms. Anita Fineday

Former Commissioner

Native Children’s Commission

Brainerd, MN

Ms. Lori Jump

Executive Director

StrongHearts Native Helpline

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Mr. Mark Patterson

Chair, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission

Former Administrator, Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility/ Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center

Honolulu, HI

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2026/01/28/senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-hosts-hearing-on-native-childrens-commission-implementation-act/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Legislative Hearing titled “Justice and Safety for Native Children: Examining Title II of the Draft Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act”

Date: January 28, 2026

Time: 2:30 PM

Location: Dirksen

Room: 628

Witnesses

Panel 1

The Honorable Lonna Jackson-Street

Chairwoman

Spirit Lake Tribal Council

Fort Totten, ND

The Honorable Joan Johnson

Council Member representing Gros Ventre At Large

Fort Belknap Indian Community

Harlem, MT

Ms. Anita Fineday

Former Commissioner

Native Children’s Commission

Brainerd, MN

Ms. Lori Jump

Executive Director

StrongHearts Native Helpline

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Mr. Mark Patterson

Chair, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission

Former Administrator, Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility/ Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center

Honolulu, HI

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2026/01/28/senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-hosts-hearing-on-native-childrens-commission-implementation-act/

Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources pay tribute to the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-California).

LaMalfa passed away on January 6, 2026, at the age of 65. He sponsored and co-sponsored a number of Indian Country bills during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, which included a stint as chair of the House Subcommittee on  Indian and Insular Affairs.

" I think he did that job admirably as well," Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colorado), the current chair of the subcommittee, said at a markup session on January 22, 2026.

Speakers:

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Arkansas), Chair of House Committee on Natural Resources

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California), Ranking Member of House Committee on Natural Resources

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minnesota)

Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah)

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona)

Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho)

Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colorado)

The markup took place in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building.

President Kathleen Wooden Knife of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe delivers the State of the Tribes address on January 14, 2026.

Wooden Knife delivered the speech at the South Dakota State Legislature in Pierre, South Dakota.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration discuss the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, on January 8, 2026.

Speakers:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya

Dr. Ben Carson (former HHS Secretary)

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill

Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Brian Christine

The event took place at HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration discuss the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, on January 8, 2026.

Speakers:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya

Dr. Ben Carson (former HHS Secretary)

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill

Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Brian Christine

The event took place at HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration discuss the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, on January 8, 2026.

Speakers:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya

Dr. Ben Carson (former HHS Secretary)

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill

Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Brian Christine

The event took place at HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration discuss the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, on January 8, 2026.

Speakers:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya

Dr. Ben Carson (former HHS Secretary)

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill

Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Brian Christine

The event took place at HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration discuss the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, on January 8, 2026.

Speakers:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya

Dr. Ben Carson (former HHS Secretary)

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill

Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Brian Christine

The event took place at HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration discuss the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, on January 8, 2026.

Speakers:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya

Dr. Ben Carson (former HHS Secretary)

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill

Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Brian Christine

The event took place at HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.