04.17.18

Hoeven Statement on Senate Vote on Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today released the following statement after the Senate failed to advance S. 140, which includes the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, as well as legislation for the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Pueblos of Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh.

“I voted for legislation that affirms tribal sovereignty and would have strengthened tribal self-governance over water, lands and business regulation,” said Hoeven. “Tribal sovereignty means respecting the inherent right of Indian tribes to govern themselves on their own lands, and it is the cornerstone of our government-to-government, national-to-nation relationship. It also means tribal governments should have the right to determine their own workforce policies under the National Labor Relations Act, as local and state governments currently do. This legislation recognizes that local decision-making produces the most effective solutions for communities, and it enjoys broad support from tribal leaders and organizations throughout Indian Country. Upholding the sovereignty of Indian tribes should be non-partisan, and I will continue working to advance these priorities for Indian Country.”

-###-