On the recordMay 12, 2014
as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, I rise in support of the nomination of three distinguished Native American leaders: Vince Logan, Keith Harper, and Diane Humetewa. These individuals have been nominated to positions that are crucial to Indian Country and to our Nation. It is our responsibility to make sure they can begin this challenging work. I think it is fair to say that no one in this Chamber is happy about how the nominations have been handled in the last 2 years. There are reasons and frustrations on both sides of the aisle about the process. I understand that. But in the case of these nominees, it is long past time to act. By acting on those nominees, this Congress, which has been criticized for not doing very much, can make a little bit of history. Vince Logan's nomination was first sent to the Senate in September of 2012. He is a member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma and was nominated to be Special Trustee for American Indians at the Department of Interior. This vote is long overdue. The position has been vacant for 5 years. The Special Trustee is charged with overseeing the Department's fulfillment of its trust responsibilities to tribes and individual Indians. It is a difficult job, and I am confident Mr. Logan is the right man to do it. He is a litigator with vast experience in both public and private sectors. He has also shown great passion for working with tribes and individual Indians to manage their trust assets. Mr.…
