Senate Resolution 909 designates September 2026 as "Hawaiian History Month" to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Native Hawaiians. The resolution reaffirms the federal government's trust responsibility to support the well-being of the Native Hawaiian community. It encourages federal agencies, educational institutions, and civil society to observe the month through programs, ceremonies, and educational activities. Additionally, it calls on federal agencies to promote existing programs that implement the special political relationship with Native Hawaiians.
This Senate resolution expresses support for designating the second Monday in October 2026 as "Indigenous Peoples' Day" to honor the history and culture of Native Americans. It notes that many states and municipalities already observe this day, while Columbus Day remains a federal holiday. The bill encourages citizens to participate in ceremonies that promote awareness of Indigenous contributions and explicitly supports making Indigenous Peoples' Day an official federal holiday.
The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026 reauthorizes federal housing assistance for Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians through fiscal year 2033 while expanding eligibility to include families with incomes up to 120 percent of the area median. The bill grants tribes greater autonomy by allowing them to set their own rent, procurement, and environmental review policies, and it streamlines regulatory processes by consolidating environmental reviews and exempting certain small-scale projects from specific federal requirements. Additionally, the legislation establishes new grant programs for homeless American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, creates a rental assistance program for homeless Indian veterans, and extends leasehold interests on trust lands to 99 years to improve financing options.
This bill would transfer approximately 860 acres of federal land in Riverside County, California, into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians. Once taken into trust, the land would become part of the tribe's reservation and be managed according to federal laws governing property held for Native American tribes. The legislation includes specific conditions requiring the land to remain open space dedicated to protecting archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources, while explicitly prohibiting any gaming activities on the property. Existing water rights, service agreements, and current land use restrictions would remain unchanged, and the map identifying the land would be kept on file for public inspection.
S 3859 amends the 1993 settlement act for the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina by removing a specific requirement for future tribal membership. Currently, the law states that new members must be direct descendants of individuals on the original membership roll and must have maintained ongoing political ties with the tribe. This bill eliminates that requirement, allowing the Catawba Indian Nation to establish its own membership criteria without federal constraints. The change directly affects the Catawba Indian Nation by altering how it determines eligibility for tribal membership.
