U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) continued his efforts to improve the quality of life for Native American families on Wednesday by hosting a field hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee at the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota.
During the hearing, which was co-hosted by Hoeven and U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Hoeven said that the devastating effects of abuse were too common in Native American communities, and on children in particular.
“We’ve been working to take concrete steps to improve the safety and well-being of for children in these communities,” Hoeven said. “That includes passing the Native American Children’s Safety Act to ensure that tribal foster homes are safe, as well as initiatives to improve health, education and overall quality of life. We continue working to provide safe homes and communities to prevent trauma and build brighter futures for children in these communities.”
The Native American Children Safety Act, S. 184, authored by Hoeven and signed into law in June, protects children in the tribal foster care system by requiring background checks for all adults living in a potential foster home. Under the law, certified tribal foster homes are periodically subjected to checks before they can be re-certified, and tribes have the flexibility to require additional checks.
Hoeven has also worked on behalf of tribal veterans by cosponsoring the Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act, S. 2417. The measure would allow the Indian Health Service to cover the cost of copayments for Native Americans receiving medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Additionally, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has supported tribal education programs like the Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Program.