LaMalfa’s Indian Buffalo Management Act Considered In House Natural Resources Committee Hearing

(Washington, D.C.) - Yesterday, Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s (R-CA) bill, H.R. 6368 – the Indian Buffalo Management Act – was considered in a House Natural Resources Committee hearing. H.R. 6368 would promote tribal management of buffalo through buffalo restoration programs, the planning and executing of commercial activities related to buffalo products, and other activities related to buffalo restoration and management. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with Indian tribes or tribal organizations to dispose of surplus buffalo on federal land and transfer those buffalo to Indian land.

Congressman LaMalfa introduced the bill last month with Reps. Mary Peltola (D-AK), Tom Cole (R-OK), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA). This bill passed out of the House of Representatives in the 117th Congress, when it was led the late-Rep. Don Young of Alaska.

“I’m pleased that my bipartisan bill was quickly considered by the committee. It’s an important step in bolstering Tribal sovereignty, establishing Tribal economic opportunities, and restoring Native Americans' historic connections with the buffalo,”said Congressman LaMalfa.

The American buffalo (or bison) has long held importance to the United States and was officially named the national mammal in 2016. American Indian and Alaska Natives have also had a long standing history with the buffalo. Indian tribes used the buffalo for subsistence purposes for thousands of years, incorporating it into everyday diets and livelihoods. By the end of the 19th century, however, buffalo were near extinction. As a result, conservation efforts were enacted to restore buffalo numbers. Over the last 100 years, buffalo have slowly returned, and in 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that there were approximately 200,000 buffalo in the United States.

Indian tribes have seen their buffalo herds grow with success for many years. In 1991, several tribes with buffalo herds joined together forming the Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC). In 2009, the ITBC received a federal charter pursuant to Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act to aid tribes in the restoration of buffalo on tribal lands. Today, the ITBC is comprised of 83 member tribes with 20,000 buffalo in 21 states with the mission of restoring buffalo to Indian Country.

In Fiscal Year 2023, ITBC received approximately $1.5 million through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for its members buffalo programs, however this funding has fluctuated over the fiscal years. ITBC reports that, on average, an ITBC member tribe is underfunded by approximately $150,000 to operate their buffalo program and this equates to an estimated need of $11 million for the herd development grant program. The ITBC has estimated its approximate need to be more than $17 million per year. Advocates for a formal program state that a formal program will help with stabilizing funding.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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