Congress hears Rep. Golden’s bill to allow Maine tribes to benefit from future federal Indian laws
2022 Elections,Native Americans,US Congress,Tribal Governments,Federal State And Tribal Powers
A congressional hearing Thursday on Democratic Rep. Jared Golden’s bill to allow Maine’s tribes to benefit from all future federal Indian laws received a mixed reception, with the ranking Republican expressing concern about Congress acting without Maine’s consent.
The subcommittee, however, didn’t invite a state official to the virtual hearing, leaving the committee’s top Republican member to ask fundamental questions about the fraught and complicated 1980 land claims settlement between the state and tribes to the only witness they had called, a lobbyist for the state’s forest products industry.
“I can’t speak for the state of Maine,” Patrick Strauch, executive director of the Maine Forest Products Council, said after being pressed into that role by members for more than 10 minutes. “I can only speak for the Maine forest products industry.”
