Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 205
On July 17, 2012, the Senate passed H.R. 205,
the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH
Act). This Act, which passed the House and Senate with overwhelming
bipartisan support, authorizes long-term leasing of restricted Indian lands for
residential, business, and other purposes without prior express approval from
the Secretary of the Interior. The President welcomes the passage of this
legislation and looks forward to signing it into law.
The HEARTH Act promotes greater tribal
self-determination and will help create jobs in Indian Country. Under the
Act, federally recognized tribes can develop and implement their own
regulations governing certain leasing on Indian lands. Upon Secretarial
approval of these tribal regulations, tribes would have the authority to
process land leases without Bureau of Indian Affairs approval. This new
authority has the potential to significantly reduce the time it takes to
approve leases for homes and small businesses in Indian Country.
Native-American drum image courtesy of http://www.firstpeople.us.
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