House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

House Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 9:30 AM

Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

WITNESSES

Panel one

Donna Thompson

Vice-Chair

Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Chief Allen

Chairman

Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Panel two

Stacy Shepherd

Executive Officer of Member Services

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Audrey Lee

Second Chief

Sac and Fox Nation

Mike Natchees

Councilman

Ute Indian Tribe

Panel three

Kirk Francis

Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation

Corey Hinton

Citizen

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Brian Harris

Chief

Catawba Nation

John Johnson

President

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Panel four

Kathleen Wooden Knife

President

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Frank Star Comes Out

President

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Panel five

Ryman Lebeau

Chairman

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Janet Alkire

Chairwoman

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Panel six

Steven Orihuela

Chairman

Bishop Paiute Tribe

Charles Martin

Chairman

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Erica Pinto

Chairwoman

Jamul Indian Village

Cecilia Flores

Tribal Council Chairwoman

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe

More on Indianz.Com:

https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session/

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.828, the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act, on February 26, 2025.

The bipartisan bill, also known as the SERV Act, aims to help veteran small business owners. It is led by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation and the only Native woman serving in the U.S. Congress.

"Veterans have the skills and dedication to build successful small businesses, but they need better support when transitioning from service to entrepreneurship," said Davids. "As the daughter of a veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the commitment and resilience they bring to everything they do. I'm proud to work across party lines to ensure veterans can access the resources they deserve and overcome the challenges that stand in their way."

According to Davids, the SERV Act:

* Commissions a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the ability of veteran and reservist small business owners to access credit. This includes a new analysis on common sources of credit and how deployment and other military responsibilities affect veterans' and reservists' credit.

* Requires the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development to develop an action plan for outreach and promotion of the many programs available to veterans looking to transition into the business world.

* Requires the task force to report annually to Congress on its appointments and outline its plan for outreach on the many programs available to veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, and their spouses.

The House passed the bill under a suspension of the rules. The procedure is typically used for bills with widespread support.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) speaks in support of the Native name of Denali on the floor of the U.S. Senate on February 13, 2025.

Murkowski serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She has introduced legislation to officially designate the highest peak in North America by its name in the Koyukon language.

“In Alaska, it’s Denali,” Murkowski said. “Once you see it in person, and take in the majesty of its size and breathe in its cold air, you can understand why the Koyukon Athabascans referred to it as ‘The Great One.’"

This isn’t a political issue – Alaskans from every walk of life have long been advocating for this mountain to be recognized by its true name," said Murkowski. "That’s why today I once again introduced legislation that would officially keep this mountain’s quintessential name, ‘Denali.’”

President Donald Trump ordered the Department of the Interior to change the name of Denali to Mount McKinley. Secretary Doug Burgum took action on February 14. 2025 -- a day after Murkowski's remarks -- to adopt the directive.

Murkowski's bill is S.573:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/573