The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a business meeting and oversight hearing on Wednesday, May 20, to consider several pieces of legislation involving Tribal land restoration, trust land transfers, and long-term leasing authority before examining the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget requests for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.
The meeting will be led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chair of the committee, alongside Vice Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI).
Lawmakers are scheduled to review the following bills:
- S. 236 — A bill to amend the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
- S. 1513 — The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act, sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
- S. 2098 — The Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025, sponsored by Sen. Murkowski (R-AK).
- S. 2735 — The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act, sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA).
- H.R. 681 — Companion House legislation regarding 99-year leasing authority for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), introduced by Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA).
- H.R. 2302 — The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act, introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA).
- H.R. 2388 — The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act, introduced by Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA).
- H.R. 3620 — The Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK).
Following the business meeting, the committee will hold an oversight hearing examining the administration’s FY 2027 budget requests for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.
Scheduled witnesses include:
- William “Billy” Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.
- Clayton Fulton, Chief of Staff for the Indian Health Service, accompanied by Jillian Curtis.
Event Details
What: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs business meeting and oversight hearing on the President’s FY 2027 budget requests for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service
When: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628
The hearing will be webcast live on the committee’s website, with archived video and witness testimony available following the hearing.
Watch live here.
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