WASHINGTON, D.C. - The advancement of the Indian Buffalo Management Act out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs reaffirms bipartisan support of Tribal sovereignty, self-determination and capacity building for bison restoration on Tribal lands.

"Tribes and Indigenous communities have long demonstrated successful management of buffalo herds, and the important role buffalo play in Tribal subsistence, cultures, and ecological priorities. The committee's vote affirms that this is not a partisan issue and we thank the committee for reaffirming their support to provide the capacity and resources needed to continue buffalo conservation on Tribal lands," said Jason Baldes, Tribal buffalo program director at the National Wildlife Federation.

The Indian Buffalo Management Act would secure funding for Tribes and Tribal organizations that have an established buffalo herd and management program, as well as provide resources for Tribes to establish new herds.