Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 11, 2007 19:40:25 GMT -5
Lawmaker wants House Indian committee
By JODI RAVE
Lee News Service
www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/local/126612.txt
<http://www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/local/126612.txt\
>
The U.S. Senate has one, and now House leaders see the need for a
permanent committee on Indian affairs, too.
On Thursday, Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., asked House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi to consider an amendment to the House Rules package that would
create an Indian affairs committee, similar to the Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs.
"The creation of such a committee would be a dramatic step forward in
improving the livelihood of all Native Americans, and would signal a
commitment on the part of Congress to recognize and address issues
important to Indian Country," said Rehberg in a letter to Pelosi,
D-Calif.
Rehberg, in an interview from his Capitol Hill office Thursday, spoke
about several high-profile Indian issues that deserve the full attention
of Congress, including the Elouise Cobell trust-fund reform lawsuit,
federal recognition of tribes, and impact aid for federal education
programs.
Montana's sole representative said he's always been surprised about
Congress' lack of attention to Indian issues. "The longer I've been
here, it's bugged me. ... It's come to my mind, why hasn't the House of
Representatives ever done what the Senate did and recognized as an issue
and concern of elevating Indian affairs to having its own committee?"
So Rehberg is now looking to newly elected leaders and committee
reorganizations to change the status quo. "We have a new Congress, we
have new leadership in the Congress," he said.
Pelosi has said there would be no amendments to the House Rules package,
which could preclude creation of an Indian affairs committee.
A spokesperson from Pelosi's office was unavailable for comment on
Thursday. But Rehberg said there were other ways to create the
committee, and he promised to pursue the matter.
"This doesn't end the debate tonight or tomorrow," he said. "I will
continue to try and gather support from my colleagues that have Native
American representation " Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, on down the
line. I want to elevate this to the level it deserves, and that is a
committee of its own."
By JODI RAVE
Lee News Service
www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/local/126612.txt
<http://www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/local/126612.txt\
>
The U.S. Senate has one, and now House leaders see the need for a
permanent committee on Indian affairs, too.
On Thursday, Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., asked House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi to consider an amendment to the House Rules package that would
create an Indian affairs committee, similar to the Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs.
"The creation of such a committee would be a dramatic step forward in
improving the livelihood of all Native Americans, and would signal a
commitment on the part of Congress to recognize and address issues
important to Indian Country," said Rehberg in a letter to Pelosi,
D-Calif.
Rehberg, in an interview from his Capitol Hill office Thursday, spoke
about several high-profile Indian issues that deserve the full attention
of Congress, including the Elouise Cobell trust-fund reform lawsuit,
federal recognition of tribes, and impact aid for federal education
programs.
Montana's sole representative said he's always been surprised about
Congress' lack of attention to Indian issues. "The longer I've been
here, it's bugged me. ... It's come to my mind, why hasn't the House of
Representatives ever done what the Senate did and recognized as an issue
and concern of elevating Indian affairs to having its own committee?"
So Rehberg is now looking to newly elected leaders and committee
reorganizations to change the status quo. "We have a new Congress, we
have new leadership in the Congress," he said.
Pelosi has said there would be no amendments to the House Rules package,
which could preclude creation of an Indian affairs committee.
A spokesperson from Pelosi's office was unavailable for comment on
Thursday. But Rehberg said there were other ways to create the
committee, and he promised to pursue the matter.
"This doesn't end the debate tonight or tomorrow," he said. "I will
continue to try and gather support from my colleagues that have Native
American representation " Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, on down the
line. I want to elevate this to the level it deserves, and that is a
committee of its own."