Native Americans
The federal government has a unique treaty and trust relationship with our 573 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.
More on Native Americans
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Co-Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Native American Caucus, along with Congressman Tom Cole (R-Okla.), U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) have reintroduced legislation to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes, and for other purposes.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) announced she has been named to serve on the Appropriations Committee in the 118th Congress:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Chair of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, praised House colleagues for passing the critical omnibus appropriations package to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2023. Having also passed the U.S. Senate, the bill now goes to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement today after voting for the six-bill FY 23 Appropriations package, H.R. 8294, which passed the House:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Chair of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, commends the House passage of the FY 2022 federal legislation to fund the economic, educational, health care, and environmental priorities of the American people, including our urgent national security needs amid Russia's war in Ukraine.
Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4352 to amend the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, reaffirming the authority of the Secretary of Interior to take land into trust for all federally recognized Indian tribes, regardless of the date of their recognition. In the 2009 Carcieri v.
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 f
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day:
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.