Tribal Bill Passes, Eliminates Blood Quantum Requirement
US Senator Daniel Akaka, file photo by Wendy Osher.
By Wendy Osher
US Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawai’i today lauded the unanimous passage of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Blood Quantum Act, also known as HR 1560.
Sen. Akaka, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs said the bill embodies core principals of self-governance, self-determination, and government parity for all native people.
The bill amends an act allowing the tribe to determine its own membership requirements. The tribe is currently the only one whose membership is bound by a blood quantum requirement under federal law.
HR 1560 passed in the House of Representatives in December, 2011; and passed in the full Senate last night.
The bill now heads to the president for enactment.
Sponsored Content
