releases: http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita%E2%80%99s-bipartisan-pro-business-pro-sovereignty-bill-passes-house-third-bill-pass
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita%E2%80%99s-bipartisan-pro-business-pro-sovereignty-bill-passes-house-third-bill-pass | ROKITAS BIPARTISAN, PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-SOVEREIGNTY BILL PASSES HOUSE, THIRD BILL TO PASS THIS YEAR | 2015-11-17 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | IN | Todd Rokita | R000592 | rokita.house.gov | legacy | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MEGAN WELLS PHONE: 202-225-5037 E-MAIL:MEGAN.WELLS@MAIL.HOUSE.GOV November 17, 2015 ROKITAS BIPARTISAN, PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-SOVEREIGNTY BILL PASSES HOUSE, THIRD BILL TO PASS THIS YEAR First Time The Tribal Sovereignty Bill Passed in Ten Years Washington, D.C. Representative Todd Rokita (IN-04) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 511, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, a bipartisan bill he introduced in January. The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act will prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from exerting jurisdiction over tribal government businesses operating on tribal lands: It is not the National Labor Relations Boards place to impinge upon the employment preferences of sovereign tribes, just as it is not able to do so with state and local governments. Tribal governments alone, accountable to their tribal members and employees, should decide the labor practices for the entities they own on their own lands, just as state and local governments can now do under the NLRA. Drawing this line in statute not only helps tribal government, it also helps remind the executive branch of the sovereignty of state and local governments, said Rep. Rokita. H.R. 511 ends the NLRBs unnecessary and excessive overreach by allowing tribes to carry out government functions and determine their own labor ordinances. In essence, this legislation protects the constitutional principle that Native American tribal governments are sovereign governments, just like other state and local governments. I thank my colleagues in the House for supporting this commonsense, bipartisan measure and urge the Senate to pass this legislation, added Rokita. The bill passed 249 to 177. ### Background: H.R. 511 The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 Prior to the NLRB 2004 Sam Manuel decision, the NLRB respected Native American sovereignty and held that tribes are generally free from outside intervention. The NLRB overturned that decision and began using a subjective test to determine when and where to exert its jurisdiction over Indian tribes. H.R. 511 amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to stipulate that the law does not apply to any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on tribal land, restoring to tribal leaders sovereignty over employee-employer relations. Background of the two other House-Passed Bills: Balanced Budget Resolution: As Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Rep. Rokita helped write and negotiate the first bicameral, bipartisan balanced budget resolution between the Senate and the House in eleven years. Specifically, this budget balances in ten years without raising taxes, repeals Obamacare, and controls Washingtons runaway federal spending by reforming auto-pilot entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Student Success Act: Rep. Rokita, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, co-authored and led passage of the Student Success Act, a bill that replaces No Child Left Behind. The Student Success Act locks in conservative gains and brings control of our nations education back where it belongs, to parents, teachers, and local education leaders. Specifically it consolidates 69 ineffective, duplicative, and unnecessary programs, prevents the Department of Education from coercing states into adopting Common Core, and expands charter school opportunities. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |