01.28.19

Chairman Hoeven Reintroduces Legislation to Improve Tribal Public Safety, Economic Development

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, reintroduced four pieces of legislation to help improve public safety and economic development in Indian Country.

“These four pieces of legislation advance public safety and economic development in Indian Country, priorities which will serve as critical components of the Committee’s work this Congress,” said Hoeven. “For example, the SURVIVE Act provides tribal communities with critical funding to combat crime and help victims recover. We’re also introducing legislation to spur economic development in our tribal communities. Helping to improve public safety and economic growth and job creation are essential components to providing a high quality of life in Indian Country.”

The four bills Chairman Hoeven reintroduced are:

  • S.210 – the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments (TLOA) Act of 2017:
    • Reauthorizes and extends critical programs under the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010. This bill also adds additional requirements to establish greater agency oversight, improve data collection, and strengthen protections for Native youth.
  • S. 211 – the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act:
    • Increases resources for tribal victim assistance by requiring a 5 percent allocation from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) be provided to Indian tribes through a grant program. Despite high rates of victimization, in the past Indian tribes have received less than 1% of CVF resources. The CVF, which is financed by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders, provided up to $4.4 billion to victims in Fiscal Year 2018.
  • S. 209 – the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination (PROGRESS) for Indian Tribes Act of 2018:
    • Streamlines the Department of the Interior's process for approving self-governance compacts and annual funding agreements for Indian programs.
    • Aligns the process used by the Department of the Interior to be similar to the processes used by the Indian Health Service (IHS).
    • Adds more flexibility in administering those contracts for tribes that either have not qualified for self-governance or have chosen to administer only a few Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) programs.
  • S.212 – the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2018: 
    • Amends existing law to improve access to capital, promote opportunities for Indian businesses and encourage investment in tribal communities.

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