On Wednesday morning, Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations regarding the need to reform the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.  The Subcommittee hearing was focused on federal lands policy that the Committee believes has strayed from the policy’s original intent including the Wilderness Act, the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, and the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA). 

Supervisor Dillon’s testimony focused on the need to reform the IRA, specifically the process under which land is taken into trust for the benefit of tribal governments.  Subcommittee members were receptive to the testimony.  Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, argued the fundamental issue that tied the three pieces of legislation together was the federal government’s disregard for the thoughts and concerns of the local governments affected by their regulation.