Land
Tribal land base is a core aspect of Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and represents the foundation of our Tribal economies. USET SPF member Tribal Nations continue to work to restore our homelands, which are fundamental to our existence as sovereign governments and our ability to thrive as vibrant, healthy, self-sufficient communities. As our partner in the trust relationship, it is incumbent upon the federal government to prioritize and defend the restoration of our land bases. This includes a Congressional “fix” to the Supreme Court’s decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, which has severely limited the Secretary of the Interior’s ability to take land into trust for Tribal Nations pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act, by only extending such authority to those Tribal Nations “under federal jurisdiction” in 1934.
Our member Tribal Nations ultimately seek full ownership, jurisdiction, and management over our homelands without federal government interference and oversight. The federal government’s objective in the trust responsibility and obligations must be to support self-determining Tribal governments and facilitate a robust trust land acquisition program that provides a streamlined, expedient, and equitable process to establish and increase Tribal land bases.
Testimony
2024
2023
- USET SPF Testimony for the Record of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Hearing on “Safeguarding American Jobs and Economic Growth: Examining the Future of the Offshore Leasing Program” - July 27, 2023
- USET SPF Testimony for the Record of the Senate ENR Hearing to “Examine Opportunities for Congress to Reform the Process for Permitting Electric Transmission Lines, Pipelines, and Energy Production on Federal Lands” - July 26, 2023
- USET SPF Testimony for the Record of SCIA Legislative Hearing on S. 1322, the UNLOCKED Act - May 3, 2023
- USET SPF Testimony for the Record of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Hearing on "Unlocking Indian Country's Economic Potential" - March 15, 2023
2021
- Testimony of Dr. Casey Thornbrugh, United South and Eastern Tribes, before the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis for the Hearing, “Tribal Voices, Tribal Wisdom: Strategies for the Climate Crisis” - November 18, 2021
- Testimony of United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund For the Record of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing, “A call to action: Native communities’ priorities in focus for the 117th Congress” - March 24, 2021
2020
- USET SPF Testimony for the Record of SCIA Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 3126, S. 3264, S. 3937, S. 4079, and S. 4556 10-7-2020 - October 7, 2020
Comments
2024
2023
- USET SPF Comments to CEQ on Proposed NEPA Phase II Revisions - September 29, 2023
- USET SPF Comments to BIA re: Land Acquisition Funding - April 24, 2023
- USET SPF Comments on Part 151 and Part 293 Proposed Rules RIN 1076-AF71, 25 CFR part 151 - February 28, 2023
2022
2021
- USET SPF Comments on DOI FY22-26 Strategic Plan Framework - November 19, 2021
- USET SPF Comments to DOI on Tribal Homelands Protection and Restoration - November 5, 2021
Letters
2023
- USET SPF Letter to House Committee on Natural Resources in Support of HR 1208 (Carcieri Fix) - September 18, 2023
- USET SPF Letter to ASIA Newland re: Restrictive Settlement Acts - July 4, 2023
Joint Letters
2022
- Joint Tribal Partner Organizations Letter in Support of Action on Tribal Homelands Bills - H.R. 4352 and S. 4830 - November 16, 2022
- Joint Tribal Partner Organizations Letter In Support of Protecting the Land into Trust Process and Existing Tribal Homelands - April 11, 2022
2021
- USET SPF Joins and Assists with Joint DAPL Letter to Biden Admin - February 9, 2021
2020
- USET SPF Signs onto Joint Statement regarding June 5, 2020 decision on Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe v. Bernhardt et al. - June 6, 2020
To find archived items, please visit our Data Center.