WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sent a letter requesting a legislative markup for four tribal recognition bills including his effort to acquire federal recognition for the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. Rehberg, who has introduced legislation on behalf of the Tribe in each of the last two Congresses, successfully obtained a hearing on this bill last July in the House Committee on Natural Resources.  He also testified at the hearing, where he presented a strong case in favor of recognition.  Committee approval is the next step toward final passage.

“The Little Shell have waited long enough for their rightful recognition,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Native American Caucus. “While the legislative process is almost always slow, after more than 30 years of waiting, we’re closer to the finish line than we’ve been in a long time.  We’ll keep fighting until we’re done.”

The Little Shell Tribe is made up of approximately 4,300 members, mostly in the Great Falls area. In 2000, the same year the tribe was recognized by the state of Montana, the Department of Interior issued a positive finding for the tribe making them eligible for recognition. Since then, little progress has been made due to bureaucratic obstacles. Rehberg’s bill expedites recognition through the legislative process.

The full letter is below:

Dear Chairman Rahall,

We request an expeditious markup for the following bills which are currently under consideration in the Committee on Natural Resources: the Duwamish Tribal Recognition Act (H.R. 2678), the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Reaffirmation Act (H.R. 1358), the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act (H.R. 3120), and the Chinook Restoration Act (H.R. 3084).

As Members of Congress, we have worked on these bills for many years, in some cases more than a decade.  Each of the tribes has contributed significantly to the culture, history, and character of the regions which we represent, and federal recognition would be a step toward righting a historical wrong.

We believe that these bills are ready to advance through the legislative process to a vote on the floor of the House.  On July 15, 2009, the Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing examining all four of these bills.  Concerns which arose from this hearing have since been addressed, and we believe that a markup should now be scheduled without delay.

We respectfully request a meeting to discuss how we may work with you and House Leadership to move this legislation to a final vote in Committee and on the House floor as quickly as possible.  We strongly believe in the importance and caliber of these bills.  Passage of these bills is of the highest priority for each of us, and we urge swift action by our colleagues in the House.