Bill > HR7325

This bill, titled the "Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026," establishes a commission to formally investigate, document, and report on the history and lasting effects of Indian Boarding Schools and their associated policies on Native American peoples, with the ultimate goal of promoting healing for survivors, their descendants, and communities. The commission will be composed of individuals with expertise in areas such as indigenous human rights law, trauma-informed care, and Native American culture, and will be supported by advisory committees and a subcommittee focused on survivors' experiences. The bill defines "Indian Boarding School" broadly to include institutions that provided housing, received federal funding, and operated before 1969, as well as those identified in specific government reports, and defines "Indian Boarding School Policies" as federal actions aimed at assimilation that resulted in abuse and the suppression of Native languages, cultures, and identities. The commission is tasked with conducting comprehensive investigations, holding public and private meetings to gather testimony, and making recommendations to Congress regarding federal acknowledgment, policy changes, and public education, while also addressing issues related to burial sites and the repatriation of cultural items. The bill also clarifies that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act applies to cultural items related to these schools and allows for the reburial of repatriated items on federal land.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7325/all-info