111th Congress: Action On Cultural Diversity

During the 111th Congress, I have agreed to co-sponsor the following selected measures which deal with cultural diversity. This is not a comprehensive list of all the legislation I have co-sponsored related to diversity. You can view a comprehensive list at the Legislation Co-Sponsored Section of this site or through the Library of Congress Thomas site.

Legislation I have co-sponsored regarding diversity:

• H.R. 146, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act (which included the Owyhee Public Lands Management Act).  An act to designate certain land as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. This measure created the first wilderness in Idaho in nearly 30 years.  It also includes protection for sacred Tribal lands in Owyhee County.  Introduced January 6, 2009; signed into law March 30, 2009.

• S. 797, the Tribal Law and Order Act. The bill would amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act to increase Native American tribes’ law enforcement powers and increase federal powers and responsibilities regarding crimes on Indian land.

Actions I have taken to support cultural diversity include:

• Led Idaho delegation effort to secure sufficient funding for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' Justice Center.  Click here to read the letter, dated June 5, 2009, sent to the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
• Advocated to provide funding for projects in Idaho that address concerns with cultural diversity and promote community efforts.
• Introduced former Idaho Attorney General Larry EchoHawk at the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing over his nomination to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  Click here to read my introduction.

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