Byron Dorgan: “This is a hearing on bills to address tribal economic development, a lands claim settlement and an Indian irrigation…”

Tribes ceded close to 200 million acres of land during the treaty-making and removal periods prior to 1881.

Now, we need to change. We need to do it quickly and effectively.

The problems facing American Indian and Alaska Native children are so significant that only concerted action by the Executive branch agencies and Congress would begin to address them.

Senator Dorgan once said it takes four agencies and 49 steps. I think with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, we say it is seven agencies and 100 steps.