Indian Affairs Chairman Remembers Senator John McCain’s Work on Native Issues

Following the passing of Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Saturday, Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who currently chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released a statement highlighting McCain’s work on the Committee and on behalf of Native communities. McCain served on the Indian Affairs Committee from 1987, when he was elected to the Senate, until his death, and served as Chairman of the Committee twice during his Senate career.

“With Senator McCain’s passing, Indian Country has lost one of its most ardent advocates,” Hoeven said in a statement. “Senator McCain is one of the Committee’s longest-serving members and he worked tirelessly on behalf of Indian Country, particularly Indian children. He strongly believed the federal government has a solemn duty to meet its trust obligation to Native Americans. Senator McCain was a champion for tribal self-governance and self-determination.”

“Senator McCain served Indian Country and this nation with honor, selflessness, dignity, and tenacity,” Hoeven continued. “As chairman, I aspire to continue Senator McCain’s long legacy of work on behalf of America’s indigenous people. Thank you Senator McCain for your service.”

According to a document on McCain’s Senate website detailing his work in Indian Country, some of McCain’s landmark accomplishments are the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which enabled Tribes to develop a $27 billion gaming industry; the Tribal Self-Governance Act, which ended federal paternalism over Tribally-administered healthcare, education, law enforcement, and other community services; and the Water Settlement Act of 2004, which is regarded as the most impactful water settlement legislation in Arizona history.

A full list of McCain’s accomplishments as a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is listed alongside Hoeven’s statement on the Committee website.