Heinrich reintroduces bill to expand tribal buffalo herds

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., reintroduced bipartisan legislation intended to strengthen federal support for tribal buffalo herds, according to SourceNM. Co-sponsored with U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., the Indian Buffalo Management Act would direct the Department of the Interior to work with tribes to develop, protect and grow buffalo herds nationwide and authorize up to $14 million annually for those efforts.

The InterTribal Buffalo Council endorsed the legislation, according to SourceNM. Council leaders, including Delbert Chisholm of Taos Pueblo, said in a statement that helping tribes reestablish buffalo herds “will be thoroughly welcomed by Tribes and Indian people across the country.” Versions of the bill have passed one chamber of Congress in recent years but not both, according to SourceNM.