U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today released comprehensive draft legislation aimed at advancing the well-being and future opportunities of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children. This discussion draft bill is grounded in the recommendations and themes of the report, The Way Forward, by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children issued in February of 2024.
The Commission, established by bipartisan legislation co-led by Senator Murkowski and former Senator Heitkamp, conducted a comprehensive study, including hearings and site visits, to understand the diverse experiences of Native children and families. Their final report, The Way Forward, offered recommendations to support successful approaches for service delivery, data collection, and culturally relevant programming, which laid out a clear roadmap for legislative action.
“This discussion draft is an important step in turning the recommendations of the Commission on Native Children into action to support our Native children, youth, and families. I’m proud to put forward a draft legislative package with the opportunity for further collaboration with stakeholders. I look forward to hearing from Tribal leaders, advocates, and non-profits supporting Native families as we work to improve policies that directly impact their communities,” said Senator Murkowski.
The draft legislation addresses a wide range of issues affecting Native children and families, including child welfare, justice, physical, behavioral, and environmental health, housing and homelessness, education, child care, and the expansion of research and data capabilities.
Chairman Murkowski asks for input from the public on this discussion draft by September 12, 2025, via email to Murkowski_Outreach@Indian.Senate.Gov.
A section-by-section summary of the draft legislation can be found here.
The full discussion draft is available here.
Background:
Senator Murkowski co-led the legislation that created the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children. This came following a powerful moment at the 2013 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, when a group of young people from Tanana, Alaska, courageously shared their experiences with violence, substance abuse, and suicide in their communities, calling for immediate action.
Moved by their testimony, Senator Murkowski, alongside former Senator Heidi Heitkamp, introduced bipartisan legislation to create a commission dedicated to studying and addressing these critical issues. The commission was named in honor of two influential Native leaders: Dr. Walter Soboleff, a revered Tlingit elder and advocate for cultural education, and Alyce Spotted Bear, former Chairwoman of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.
Charged with conducting a comprehensive study of federal, Tribal, state, and local programs serving Native children, the commission’s work culminated in recommendations designed to improve the well-being and opportunities of Native children. The legislation establishing the commission was signed into law in 2016 and has since guided important policy discussions and initiatives with the release of The Way Forward report.
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