S.Amdt. 1810

As your legislative analyst, let's break down what this is all about in plain English. Ms. Smith put forward SA 1810 regarding the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

The whole point of this amendment is to create a new rule in the Senate called a point of order. This rule aims to protect Indian Tribes and Native Americans.

Specifically, the amendment aims to add a rule that makes it out of order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would:

• Harm Indian Tribes or Native Americans.
• In any way reduce services provided under the trust and treaty obligations of the Federal Government to Indian Tribes and Native Americans.

If someone tries to push a measure that breaks this rule, any Senator can raise an objection. To get around this rule and pass the harmful measure anyway, it would take a three-fifths affirmative vote of the Senators chosen and sworn to waive or suspend it. It also takes that same three-fifths vote to overturn a ruling made by the Chair regarding this rule.