Summary#
This bill would create the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States. The Commission would operate for up to 6 years to investigate Federal Indian boarding school policies and their long-term effects on Native American and Native Hawaiian students, survivors, descendants, and communities. The law would set up the Commission, a Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, a Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and a Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee. The Commission must hold public and private convenings across the 12 Bureau of Indian Affairs regions and Hawai`i, collect records and testimony (including from Federal agencies and religious institutions), coordinate on burial sites, and publish an initial report and a final report with findings and recommendations.
What it means for you#
- Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations can nominate members and submit testimony and documents.
- The Commission must hold at least one convening in each BIA region and Hawai`i and quarterly convenings after the first year. Anyone with relevant testimony may be allowed to speak at convenings, subject to the Chairperson's discretion.
- Survivors, descendants, and communities can receive trauma-informed care during and after meetings the Commission holds.
- The Commission will work to locate and document marked and unmarked burial sites related to boarding schools and share burial locations and identities with affected lineal descendants, Tribes, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs when practicable.
- The Commission will produce an initial report (within 4 years after a majority of members are appointed) and a final report before it ends, and send those reports to many Federal officials and make them public.
Expenses#
- The bill specifies $90,000,000 shall be used to carry out the Act, drawn from amounts authorized under sections cited in the bill (Indian Land Consolidation Act Amendments of 2000 and the Indian Financing Act of 1974).
- Commissioners and advisory committee members receive per diem-style compensation tied to specified General Schedule pay rates for days worked (limits on days per month apply) and may receive travel expenses at standard Federal rates.
- The Commission may accept gifts and donations, solicit funds with a 3/5 vote, enter contracts as appropriations allow, and request administrative support from the General Services Administration on a reimbursable basis.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.