Senate Committee on Indian Affairs elects Murkowski chair, adopts rules and funding resolution

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, was elected chair and Sen. Brian Schatz was elected vice chair at the committee's organizational meeting, where members also adopted the committee's standing rules and a committee funding resolution.

Murkowski opened the meeting by saying the committee would “come to order” and that members share “a desire to accomplish good things” for Native people. She described the committee's jurisdiction as wide-ranging — including education, transportation, public safety and forestry — and cited recent bipartisan accomplishments during the previous Congress, including VAWA 2022 and investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Sen. Brian Schatz, whom Murkowski nominated and who was elected vice chair, praised the committee’s bipartisan partnership. “One of the best things about the last 4 years has been our partnership,” Schatz said, adding that members are “committed to self determination” and to “the treaty and trust responsibilities that the United States federal government has with tribes and other native peoples.”

The committee proceeded to three listed agenda items: election of the chair and vice chair, adoption of committee rules, and reporting a committee funding resolution to the Senate Rules Committee. A motion was made and seconded to elect Murkowski as chair and Schatz as vice chair; members approved the motion by voice vote, after which the chair declared the officers elected.

Members then voted to adopt the committee's rules. The chair said the rules were the same as in recent Congresses and that there were no proposed changes; the committee approved the rules by voice vote. Finally, the committee approved its funding resolution, again by voice vote, and the chair announced the resolution had been adopted.

The meeting concluded after brief opportunities for members to make statements. Murkowski and Schatz both flagged priorities for the Congress, including housing and public safety, and the chair noted that the committee will pursue its agenda for the 119th Congress. No roll-call vote tallies or individual member vote records were provided in the transcript; outcomes were announced by voice vote with the chair stating the “ayes have it.”

The committee noted it did not yet have all members present at the start of the meeting and welcomed Sen. Jerry Moran back to the panel; the transcript did not specify which members were absent or provide any further attendance details. Meeting business was described as procedural and organizational and did not include debate on specific bills or policy amendments during this session. The chair adjourned the meeting after completing the three agenda items.