From Preservation Action:

This week, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a legislative hearing on the Advancing Tribal Parity on Federal Lands Act (H.R. 8108, S. 4421), and the Tribal Cultural Heritage Areas Protection Act (H.R. 8109, S. 4423). These important bills, led by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), would help advance Tribal management of public lands and improve protection of sacred and cultural sites. The Committee also considered the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act (H.R. 8719), which would establish more than 300,000 acres in Arizona as National Conservation Areas, protecting one of the most unique and significant cultural sites in the Southwest. Learn more and take action!

The Tribal Parity on Federal Lands Act would prohibit the sale of public lands containing Tribal cultural sites, authorize Tribal governments to acquire public lands, increase Tribal consultation, and require the consideration of Tribal cultural sites in acquisition decisions. The Tribal Cultural Heritage Areas Protection Act would direct public land management to identify Tribal cultural areas, establish a national Tribal Cultural Areas System within public lands, and provide authority to Tribal Nation to manage these areas. Learn more!

During the hearing, Tina Marie Osceola, the Director of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, testified in support of H.R. 8108 and H.R. 8109 on behalf of the National Conference of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.

These bills will now move to be considered by the full House Natural Resources Committee. Preservation Action will continue to follow these important bills. Watch the full hearing at https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/npfpl-legislative-hearing_september-14-2022