By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
Whether tribal members should be provided a place on Colorado’s American Indian Affairs Committee was a consideration for a pair of House members Monday during a hearing for House Bill 25-1057 in front of the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee.
“We listen, we pay attention and we learn,” said Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg, a prime sponsor of the bill establishing the five-year American Indian Affairs Interim Committee.
The committee’s purpose is to “examine issues and challenges that impact American Indian Tribal Nations,” the bill summary reads. It would consist of six members of the general assembly who serve for the duration of the committee, outside of a resignation or are no longer in office. The committee can meet up to six times and recommend up to five bills during each interim session. A report of the committee must be presented by Jan. 15, 2030.
Rep. Stephanie Luck considered the committee existing solely of members of the Colorado Legislature, and not including enrolled tribal members.
“Would you consider representatives from tribal nations being on the committee,” she asked.
She encouraged prime sponsors Weinberg and Democrat Rep. Monica Duran that a seat on the committee, instead of at an audience table, might be preferred, and withheld her support without it.
“They were engaged and they were involved,” Weinberg said. “They were at the table giving their opinions.”
She says being “at the table” offering opinion and being engaged by making decisions are different.
“This is a long overdue committee that should have been in place many years ago,” Weinberg said.
It is possible seats on the committee could be given to tribal members in time.
“It is laying the foundation,” Duran said.
Added Republican Rep. Brandi Bradley, “I’d too like to know why they aren’t getting a seat at the table.”
The bill advanced to appropriations on a 10-1 vote, with Luck opposed.