National Park Service Director Chuck Sams to Testify on Tribal Co-Management of Public Lands

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, March 8, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams will testify before the House Natural Resources Committee to discuss Tribal co-management of public lands.

Director Sams will join the Committee’s “Examining the History of Federal Lands and the Development of Tribal Co-Management” oversight hearing to highlight the Interior Department’s commitment to strengthening Indian Country by bolstering the government-to-government relationship and treating Tribes as partners in co-stewardship of America’s lands and waters.

Last year, the Interior and Agriculture Departments created the “Tribal Homelands Initiative,” a collaborative effort to improve federal stewardship of public lands, waters and wildlife by strengthening the role of Tribes in federal land management. Through a joint Secretarial Order, the Departments codified a policy to facilitate agreements with Tribes to collaborate in the co-stewardship of federal lands and waters. The Order also directs the Departments to ensure that Tribal governments play an integral role in decision-making related to the management of federal lands and waters.

The hearing begins at 10:00 a.m. EST and can be viewed on the Committee’s website.