Legislative Hearing on H.R. 6917, H.R. 8473 and H.R. 8954

The House Committee on Natural Resources GOP Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on June 10, 2026, to discuss three bills impacting tribal communities: H.R. 6917, H.R. 8473, and H.R. 8954. H.R. 6917 proposes transferring 3,156 acres of Bureau of Land Management land into trust for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe to support tribal sovereignty and economic development. H.R. 8473 authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to fund public health veterinary services through Indian Health Service contracts to address zoonotic diseases and reduce dog bite incidents in rural tribal communities, particularly in Alaska. H.R. 8954 seeks to transfer regulatory reform authority from the Department of Commerce to the Department of the Interior to better support tribal economic development by reducing federal regulatory barriers. Witnesses, including tribal leaders and health officials, testified in support of the bills, emphasizing the need for adequate funding, staffing, and interagency coordination to implement these measures effectively. The committee discussed the importance of tribal self-determination, economic opportunity, public health improvements, and honoring federal trust responsibilities. No votes were recorded during the hearing, but members expressed bipartisan support and the intent to advance the legislation.