Sen. Moran Introduces Legislation to Restore Sovereign Status of Tribal Governments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act to restore the sovereign status of tribal governments. This legislation would clarify in a technical amendment that the definition of “employers” in the National Labor Relations Act excludes federally-recognized tribal governmental employers on tribally-owned land alongside other governmental employers.

“It is time to correct a decade-old error made by the National Labor Relations Board and once again allow tribal governments, elected by their members, to have the authority to make informed decisions on behalf of those they represent,” said Sen. Moran. “This sensible and narrow bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to exempt tribally-owned entities operated on tribally-owned lands from the NLRB and is supported by more than 160 Indian tribes and tribal corporations. The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act would rightfully restore the sovereign status of tribal governments, and I will continue working with my colleagues to get this bill to the President’s desk.”