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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 20, 2022 10:18 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Steven J. Santarsiero |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | State Recognition of Native American Tribes |
| We have a duty and responsibility to foster awareness, understanding and appreciation of the many and varied contributions to the quality of life made by Native Americans. That’s why I plan to introduce legislation establishing a formal procedure for recognizing groups indigenous to Pennsylvania. State tribal recognition does not confer the same benefits as federally recognized tribes; it acknowledges tribal status within the state but does not guarantee funding from the state or federal government. Tribes do seek state recognition, however, because it acknowledges their historical and cultural contributions. In some cases, state recognition qualifies the tribe for federal and state support. For example, four federal agencies—the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services—have the statutory and regulatory authority to provide funding for state-recognized tribes. With that in mind, in the near future I will be introducing legislation that would establish the Commission on Native American Affairs, which will be tasked with creating recognition criteria, the application process for certification, as well as convening a separate advisory committee for reach petition request. The advisory committee would make a recommendation to the Commission for or against state recognition. Once the Commission reviews the committee’s recommendation and makes a determination, a request for recognition would be submitted to the Governor, who may issue an executive order to recognize the Pennsylvania Native American status of the petitioning group. It is in the shared interest of the Commonwealth and groups in Pennsylvania to avoid misrepresentation of Native American identity, culture, and heritage. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB505