Native Americans
The federal government has a unique treaty and trust relationship with our 567 sovereign tribal nations. As part of this relationship, the federal government has the responsibility to provide health, education and law enforcement, among other services, for American Indians and Native Alaskans. While significant progress has been made, the federal government still has work to do to fully meet its obligations to Native people.
I serve as Co-Chair Emeritus of the bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus and as Chair of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. In both roles, I work closely with tribal leaders and Native communities to ensure adequate funding for the Indian Health Service, Indian Education, Indian School Construction, and Native American Housing Block Grants. Federal investments in health, education, economic development programs, and housing are vital to making Native American families and communities stronger.
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Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) and Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) have introduced the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act (IPAAA) to provide advance appropriations and avoid lapses in funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), which fund critical public services for tribal nations, including hospitals, schools, tribal justice services, and social services for children, families, and seniors.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day:
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the first people who lived in North America and their immeasurable value and contributions. As we celebrate these resilient and strong communities, we acknowledge the importance of the U.S. government upholding its trust and treaty obligations to tribal governments.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4502, a package of seven Appropriations bills to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2022.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, released the following statement after the passage of the conference agreement for the $36.107 billion FY 21 Interior-Environment funding bill as part of the 12-bill appropriations omnibus package, H.R. 133:
After passing the U.S. House of Representatives today, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (MN-04) and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) to restore over eleven thousand acres of wrongly seized land to the Leech Lake Reservation is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, released the following statement today after the passage of the FY 21 Interior-Environment funding bill, part of a four-bill appropriations minibus, H.R. 7608:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after the Washington NFL Football team announced it will retire its racist nickname:
“For years, I have been proud to stand with tribal leaders, youth, and organizations in calling for the National Football League’s franchise in Washington to end its use of a racist mascot that demeans and dehumanizes Native Americans. For decades, this caricature of Native Americans was used for profit with the effect of devaluing and diminishing the humanity of native people.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after corporate sponsors asked the Washington NFL team to change its harmful name and mascot:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), released the following statement today on the $3 trillion Heroes Act, the next emergency funding bill proposed by House Democrats in response to the pandemic that is impacting all of our communities:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, released the following statement today in response to the Department of the Treasury and Department of Interior’s announced plan for distributing $4.8 billion of the $8 billion in emergency response funds allocated to Native American tribal governments by the CARES Act: