Lopez Island Friends (Quaker) Meeting on Lopez Island, Washington, supports the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S.761, H.R. 7325).
Congress marked May 5, 2026, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) with both chambers introducing bipartisan resolutions. In the House, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-4) introduced a resolution with cosponsors from both parties.
We, the Duluth Superior Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), support passage of the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2025 (SB 761), and the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026, (HR 7325).
First I would like to thank the author, Rachel Overstreet, for accompanying me when I lobbied my congressmember and senators on this very issue! Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL) is such a valuable resource for lobbying.
Last week, FCNL hosted a faith leader fly-in in support of the Truth and Healing Commission Bill (HR 7325/S.761).
Unlike many Friends, I don’t have a clear memory of learning the history of Indian boarding schools. There was no memorable sit-down during my childhood when I was introduced to the more than one-hundred-year period when the United States government, in partnership with religious organizations, placed thousands of Native children in these schools. As a Native person, I suspect that isn’t unusual.
Every single issue on our legislative agenda is on fire. This is unique.
Halito F/friends!
The federal government shutdown has continued through October, doing immense damage to federal workers and the American people. While most legislative activity has been put on hold, FCNL continues to find opportunities for action. This month, consider writing Congress and asking them to pass S.761, the Truth and Healing Commission Bill!
Today, Senators Tim Kaine (VA), Adam Schiff (CA), and Rand Paul (KY) introduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to prevent President Donald Trump from launching unauthorized military strikes on Venezuela.
The new resolution comes as the Trump administration continued its lawless killings in the Caribbean Sea this week while escalating tensions and threatening war with Venezuela.
New U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean Sea
On July 15, the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee passed the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R.4754). Tribal programs in the bill were largely funded at or above FY25 levels, despite the President’s budget request, which called for deep spending cuts to some Indian Country programs.
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