Statement of U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, II
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources
Legislative Hearing on
H.R. 4347, "Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2009"
June 9, 2010

The Committee is meeting today to conduct a hearing on H.R. 4347, the ADepartment of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2009,@ sponsored by the gentleman from Oklahoma, Dan Boren.

Under self-governance, Indian tribes assume the duties of the Federal government for certain programs within the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services.  This has been hailed as one of the most successful federal programs for Indian tribes.

The Government Accountability Office has noted that tribes engaging in self-governance have greater gains in employment levels compared to tribes that participate less in the program.  In addition, self-governance tribes have experienced positive growth in employment levels and per capita income.

Congress made changes to the self-governance program at the Department of Health and Human Services in 2000.  Since then, Indian tribes have experienced improvements in the administration of self-governance within the Indian Health Service.

The bill before us today would amend the Department of the Interior self-governance program to make it consistent with the self-governance program at the Department of Health and Human Services.  It will allow Indian tribes to assume the administration of programs at the Department of the Interior using rules and procedures similar to those used at the Indian Health Service.

I look forward to hearing the testimony this morning.