Murkowski, Schatz introduce $800M bill for Native children and families

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Brian Schatz introduced legislation that would direct more than $800 million toward Native children and families, with nearly $500 million structured to flow directly to tribal governments through set-asides the moment the bill becomes law.

The Native Children's Commission Implementation Act, designated S.4976, was referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which Murkowski chairs and Schatz serves as vice chair. The bill translates recommendations from the February 2024 report "The Way Forward," produced by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, into eight titles covering justice, housing, education, childcare, workforce, nutrition, data research, and physical, behavioral, and environmental health. The commission was created by bipartisan legislation co-led by Murkowski and former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.

Schatz said the bill is "an investment in the future of Native Hawaiian families" that "strengthens support for Native Hawaiian children, improves health and housing, invests in education and language revitalization, and ensures Native Hawaiians have a seat at the table in shaping programs that affect their community."

What the Bill Would Change for Alaska

For Alaska Native communities, the bill's immediate set-aside structure is a central feature. Tribal governments have historically received small percentage carve-outs within larger federal programs, leaving programs underfunded and fragmented. The National Indian Child Care Association, which represents tribal child care providers including Alaska Native programs, has supported raising the Child Care and Development Block Grant tribal set-aside from 2 percent to 5 percent and creating a dedicated Office on Native Children to coordinate data and programs across agencies. The association has also noted that authorizing funds without fixing access and flexibility will not close disparities on its own.

The bill includes provisions for Native American language schools, with dedicated funding and training for teachers required to master both language fluency and subject matter expertise.

Alaska Organizations Back the Measure

Cook Inlet Tribal Council and the Alaska Federation of Natives both endorsed the bill. Gloria O'Neill, president and CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, said the legislation embodies the collective voices and expertise of communities that informed the commission's work, adding: "This bill transforms those efforts into actionable, cross-sector policy solutions. Cook Inlet Tribal Council strongly supports this legislation and extends our sincere gratitude to Senator Murkowski for her unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of Native children and families."

Ben Mallott, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, said the bill reflects "a growing recognition that Native leaders must have a meaningful role in shaping policies that impact Native children and families."

Larry Wright, Jr., executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, put the timeline plainly: "Ten years ago, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children became law, charged with identifying solutions for the crisis facing Native children. Today, we finally have an opportunity to act on those recommendations. Our children have already waited a decade. They cannot afford further delay."

Murkowski said the bill reflects what she has heard across Alaska. "Throughout my time in the United States Senate and my visits to hundreds of Alaska Native communities, I have seen the challenges families face, but I have also seen the incredible strength, resilience, and solutions that come from within these communities," she said.

Broader Legislative Context

S.4976 is part of a broader federal push on Native child welfare. Murkowski has also co-sponsored the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Promoting Strong Native Families and Children Act, both of which address tribal set-asides and child welfare funding flexibility.

The bill now sits in committee. No hearing date has been announced.