Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026

This bill would establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies within the legislative branch to investigate the historical impacts and ongoing effects of federal policies that removed Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children from their homes. The commission would be tasked with developing recommendations for protecting unmarked graves, supporting the repatriation of children to their tribal nations, and ending the removal of children from their communities by social service and adoption agencies.

This bill affects American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children and families who were impacted by federal Indian Boarding School Policies, as well as the tribal nations from which children were removed. It also impacts state social service departments, foster care agencies, and adoption agencies involved in the removal of these children from their communities. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Truth and Healing Commission within the legislative branch to conduct investigations and develop policy recommendations.

• Establishment of the Truth and Healing Commission. Creates the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States as a legislative branch entity to investigate the historical impacts of federal Indian Boarding School Policies.
• Investigation of Indian Boarding School Policies. Directs the commission to examine the ongoing effects of federal policies that forcibly removed American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children from their homes for placement in boarding schools.
• Recommendations for Grave Protection and Repatriation. Requires the commission to develop strategies for protecting unmarked graves and supporting the repatriation of children to their respective tribal nations.
• Child Welfare and Family Preservation Recommendations. Task the commission with creating recommendations to end the removal of Native children from their families and communities by state social services, foster care, and adoption agencies.

The bill addresses the historical and ongoing impacts of the Indian Boarding School Policies, which were federal policies that authorized the removal of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children from their homes. It also seeks to develop recommendations for discontinuing the current removal of these children from their communities by state social service departments, foster care agencies, and adoption agencies.

This bill establishes a commission to investigate the historical impacts and ongoing effects of federal Indian Boarding School Policies, which involved the forced removal of Native children from their homes. The commission is tasked with developing recommendations for protecting unmarked graves, supporting the repatriation of children to their tribal nations, and ending the removal of Native children from their communities by state and social service agencies.