Senate Committee on Indian Affairs adopts 25-item agenda, advances tribal water, health and forestry bills

At a business meeting, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs adopted 25 agenda items on a voice vote by unanimous consent, advancing multiple bills that address Indian water rights settlements, tribal forestry, veterinary public health services and the legacy of federal Indian boarding schools.

Committee Chair Senator Lisa Murkowski, opening the meeting, said the package included measures that cover "important issues for native people, public health and safety, forestry, the legacy of federal Indian boarding school policy, restoration of tribal lands and water issues." She said 10 of the bills before the committee were Indian water rights settlements and described those settlements as a way to "help tribal nations obtain safe reliable water supplies that in turn improve public health and…