Ranking Member Morelle Commemorates the Centennial of the Indian Citizenship Act

Washington, D.C. — Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) issued the following statement on the centennial of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924:
 
“Today we reflect on the 100 years since the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, which extended U.S. Citizenship to Native Americans. In the nearly 150 years between the founding of our nation and the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, the United States persistently attacked the inherent sovereignty of Tribal nations and forcibly subjected them to increasing federal control, while Congress and federal courts repeatedly refused to recognize Native peoples as U.S. citizens.

“Although we have made progress in righting the wrongs of the past and respecting the sovereignty of Tribal nations, the full guarantees of U.S. citizenship—particularly the right to vote—have yet to be fully realized.”

“Native peoples continue to face substantial barriers to equal participation in federal, state and local elections. States and localities have repeatedly erected obstacles designed to bar Native peoples from exercising their sacred right to vote. 

“As part of our work to reconcile these harms, we have prepared a report that delves into the past, present, and future of Native American voting rights and proposes policy solutions to ensure every Native person is able to cast a ballot and have their voice heard. This report, titled ‘Voting for Native Peoples: Barriers and Policy Solutions,’ will be released soon.

“To truly fulfill its treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations and Native peoples, Congress must pass the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA) and ensure equal access to representation for every Native person.”

# # #