On October 8, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives approved (254 to 173) the “Native American Energy Act” (H.R. 538), a bill to remove legal and regulatory barriers to energy resource development on American Indian lands.
First introduced in 2009 by long-time Indian affairs champion Don Young (R-AK), H.R. 538 was developed with significant input from Indian tribes and organizations across the country, including POWERS clients the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, as well as the National Congress of American Indians. POWERS principals Paul Moorehead and Brian Gunn assisted in drafting this legislation.
This legislation is now pending before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.