For countless generations, Nevada tribes have called the Great Basin home and they remain a steadfast voice for protecting Nevada’s vast, beautiful landscape. Yet throughout the history of our country, Native Americans have been removed and disenfranchised from their homelands and Nevada’s Washoe Paiute and Western Shoshone people suffered great land losses through federal Indian policy. They not only lost land but lost heritage, culture and tradition. I am committed to righting historic injustices and I have introduced legislation to transfer significant amounts of land back into the hands of Nevada’s tribes.

Transferring federal land back to Nevada’s tribes is so important to me and Native Nevadans, who ought to be able to develop their lands and take care of their communities on their own terms. I pleased to support that the US Senate Committee on Senate Affairs took the time to examine my legislation, the Moapa Band of Paiutes Land Conveyance Act and the Nevada Native Nations Land Act, which would together transfer more than 100,000 acres into trusts for eight Nevada tribes. The effects of this legislation are far-reaching, and will provide much-needed land for economic and energy development, housing and community development, cultural preservation, open cattle grazing and agricultural uses.

Tribes in Nevada and across Indian Country are eager for new opportunities to pursue economic development plans and my legislation will help them achieve that pursuit. During my time in the Senate, I will continue to do what I can to right some of the many wrongs by helping tribes restore their homelands and protect their sovereignty.