Number: RS21533
Title: Indian Tribal Government Amendments to the Homeland Security Act: S. 578 and Indian Tribal Sovereignty
Authors: M. Maureen Murphy, American Law Division 
Abstract: S. 477, the Tribal Government Amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, has been introduced to "ensure that ... the Department of Homeland Security consults with Indian tribal governments ... and ... [that] Indian tribal governments participate fully in the protection of the homeland of the United States." An earlier version of this legislation, S. 578, in the 108th Congress raised concern in some quarters that it would overturn Nevada v. Hicks, 533 U.S. 353 (2001), or otherwise expand Indian tribal sovereignty. S. 477 differs from the earlier version both by including authority for direct funding, rather than indirect funding through individual states, of Indian tribal homeland security projects, and by eliminating the provisions in the earlier bill that appeared to endorse a view of tribal criminal and civil jurisdiction inconsistent with Supreme Court rulings on the subject of tribal jurisdiction. The operative provisions of the legislation remove tribal governments from the definition of "local governments," and distinguish them from both state governments and local governments. The legislation also appears to contain no direct statement specifically granting or delegating a particular law enforcement authority to tribes or overruling any named Supreme Court case. Related legislation includes § 131 of S. 536 and S. 1374 which contain provisions authorizing a border preparedness pilot program on Indian land.
Pages: 6
Date: July 13, 2005