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Bill113th CongressFiled Oct 30, 2013Native Americans
S. 1622

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

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What it doesSummary reported to senate with amendment(s) (Aug 26, 2014)

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act - (Sec. 4) Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Requires the President and Congress to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and matters to be studied by the Commission, including health care issues facing Native children, Indian education, juvenile justice programs, and social service programs used by Native children.

Requires the Commission to establish a Native Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of Indian tribes from each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and a native Hawaiian. Requires members of the Committee to be experienced in matters to be studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:

  • the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
  • barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
  • obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
  • issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
  • barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families, as well as any examples of successful program models; and
  • barriers to interagency coordination.

Directs the Commission to use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to:

  • develop plans and goals for federal policy relating to Native children in the short-, mid-, and long-term informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures;
  • recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities and result in improvements to the child welfare system, the mental and physical health of Native children, educational and vocational opportunities, and tribal juvenile detention programs.
  • recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and
  • identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to submit a report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.

Terminates the Commission 90 days after the report is submitted.

What just happenedOct 1, 2014

By Senator Tester from Committee on Indian Affairs filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/18/2014. Report No. 113-264. Additional views filed.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND](D-ND)Sponsor
34 cosponsors25 D9 R
Read on Congress.gov
34cosponsors1committees10actions33subjects
  • Reported to SenateAug 26, 2014
  • Introduced in SenateOct 30, 2013
  1. Oct 1, 2014Floor

    By Senator Tester from Committee on Indian Affairs filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/18/2014. Report No. 113-264. Additional views filed.

  2. Oct 1, 2014Committee14900

    By Senator Tester from Committee on Indian Affairs filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/18/2014. Report No. 113-264. Additional views filed.

  3. Aug 26, 2014Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 537.

  4. Aug 26, 2014Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/05/2014 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  5. Aug 26, 2014Committee14000

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Tester under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/05/2014 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  6. May 21, 2014Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  7. Apr 2, 2014Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-324.

  8. Oct 30, 2013IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

  9. Oct 30, 2013IntroReferralB00100

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7678-7679, S7680)

  10. Oct 30, 2013IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Aug 26, 20141

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act - (Sec. 4) Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Requires the President and Congress to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and matters to be studied by the Commission, including health care issues facing Native children, Indian education, juvenile justice programs, and social service programs used by Native children.

Requires the Commission to establish a Native Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of Indian tribes from each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and a native Hawaiian. Requires members of the Committee to be experienced in matters to be studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:

  • the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
  • barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
  • obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
  • issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
  • barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families, as well as any examples of successful program models; and
  • barriers to interagency coordination.

Directs the Commission to use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to:

  • develop plans and goals for federal policy relating to Native children in the short-, mid-, and long-term informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures;
  • recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities and result in improvements to the child welfare system, the mental and physical health of Native children, educational and vocational opportunities, and tribal juvenile detention programs.
  • recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and
  • identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to submit a report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.

Terminates the Commission 90 days after the report is submitted.

Introduced in SenateOct 30, 2013

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act - Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Requires the President and Members of Congress serving in specified leadership positions to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and the matters to be studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:

  • the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
  • barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in applying, reporting on, and using existing public and private grant resources;
  • obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
  • issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
  • barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families, as well as any examples of successful program models and use of best practices; and
  • barriers to interagency coordination on programs benefitting Native children.

Directs the Commission to use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data relating to Native children to:

  • develop plans and goals for federal policy relating to Native children in the short-, mid-, and long-term, which shall be informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures;
  • recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children at the federal, state, and tribal level that would integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities and improve those programs;
  • recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and
  • identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission.

Requires the Commission to submit a report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for appropriate legislative and administrative action.

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act — Informed