As the former Chairman and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I have worked to strengthen tribal sovereignty, with a focus on economic development, job creation, energy development and natural resource management. Additionally, we’ve worked to improve health care, education, public safety, and housing in tribal communities.
We continue working to empower tribes to create solutions that work for their members by supporting tribal self-governance, which will spur economic growth and increase opportunities. Legislation I sponsored, the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act and the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, both became law to provide tribes with greater tools for economic development.
During my time as Chairman, we prioritized improving public safety and it remains a top focus. I helped pass Savanna’s Act to develop better methods for addressing missing and murdered Native Americans. I also established the U.S. Indian Law Enforcement Advanced Training Center at Camp Grafton to provide tribal law enforcement in the Great Plains area with the necessary training and skills to serve and meet the challenges in their communities. Additionally, through my work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have secured dedicated funding for tribes from the Crime Victims Fund in order to support services for victims of violence on reservations.