WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Vice Chairman of the Committee, led Committee passage of the following bills at a recent business meeting:
- S. 2695, Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act
- S. 3857, Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act
- S. 4442, Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024
- S. 4505, Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024
Following the business meeting, the Committee held a nomination hearing to consider President Biden’s nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh to serve as the Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC).
Kunesh, a descendent of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota, was nominated by President Biden to serve as the Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission on July 23, 2024. She is currently serving as the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If confirmed, Kunesh would lead the Commission in its mission to promote tribal economic development and self-determination, support the integrity of the Indian gaming industry, and ensure that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of their gaming activities.
“This hearing is an important first step in carrying out the Senate’s constitutional obligation to provide advice and consent,” said Chairman Schatz. “It’s an opportunity to learn how, if confirmed, Ms. Kunesh plans to carry out and uphold the United States’ trust responsibilities to tribes and the oversight function of the National Indian Gaming Commission over Indian gaming. I am confident that Ms. Kunesh will bring the same strong leadership and ethics to the position as she does in her role as ANA Commissioner.”
“The Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission is a position of great importance to preserving the integrity of Indian Gaming so that it can provide benefits to tribal governments and Native people at large,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski. “It is a big job but Ms. Kunesh, the nominee, has been a long-time public servant and is no stranger to the issues that come before the Commission. It is certainly my hope that her nomination can move quickly through committee.”