Political Quotes

“Mr. President, earlier this week, I spoke about the historic accomplishments of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs with my good friend and vice chair Lisa Murkowski over the last 4 years. I made it very clear that the foundation of this success--and continues to be--Native leaders, communities, and advocates sharing their priorities and telling us what is most important to them. I also emphasized that we cannot and will not rest on our laurels because our progress is still in progress. That is why, today, we have to pass S. 1723, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. This bill would establish a Federal commission to investigate the Federal Indian boarding school era, when the Federal Government partnered with religious institutions in an attempt to assimilate Native children at so-called schools, often far from their homes and families, where they were stripped of their cultures, languages, and identities and beaten and abused, both mentally and physically. Thousands--likely more--died at those schools, and those who returned home were never the same. The Truth and Healing Commission would turn the page on this shameful era and help begin the healing process for Native survivors, descendants, and communities and those who continue to experience the generational trauma and lasting legacy of these policies today. S. 1723 passed out of the committee after extensive bipartisan debate.…”