Sponsors (18)
Official title: To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 3, 2026 by Tom Cole · Last progress February 3, 2026
The bill creates a federally funded, regionally active Commission and advisory bodies to document Indian boarding school harms, advance healing, and restore cultural heritage for Native communities, while imposing federal costs, administrative burdens, limits on private legal recourse, and risks of retraumatization and reduced transparency.
Survivors, descendants, and Native communities gain a Congress-established Commission and formal investigatory forum to document boarding school harms, seek recognition, and recommend remedies.
Survivors and affected communities are more likely to get culturally responsive, trauma‑informed healing services and supports as the Commission promotes and guides care and convenings.
The Act authorizes $90 million to staff and operate the Commission, enabling research, outreach, records searches, and other activities necessary to carry out investigations and recommendations.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending both immediately (the $90 million authorization) and potentially long‑term if Commission recommendations create new programs, compensation, or other obligations.
Federal agencies and employees will incur administrative burdens and resource demands — responding to Commission inquiries, implementing recommendations, facilitating reburials and co‑stewardship, and conducting records searches — which may require staff time and additional costs.
Survivors, descendants, and communities could be retraumatized by testimony, records searches, or public disclosures (including concerns about the disclosure of burial locations and identities), creating emotional and cultural harms.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Truth and Healing Commission, advisory committees, NAGPRA application to boarding-school items, and authorities for reburial and co-stewardship agreements.
Creates a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies to investigate and document the history and long-term effects of federal Indian boarding school policies, develop recommendations for federal action, and promote healing for survivors, descendants, and communities. The bill defines covered terms, establishes the Commission and two advisory committees (a Native American advisory committee and a Federal & Religious advisory committee), sets nomination/appointment rules and membership terms, and clarifies application of NAGPRA to boarding-school–related cultural items and funerary matters.