Bill · S. 3769· Senate(119-S-3769)
Helping Our People Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 2/3/2026
- Last activity
- 2/3/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Maria Cantwell
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Helping Our People Act of 2026," seeks to amend the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989. The primary purpose is to clarify that the Puyallup Tribe of Indians can withdraw money from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Trust Fund. This withdrawal would occur under a management plan that the Secretary approves. The bill also includes a savings provision regarding how the United States engages with the Tribe.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+6
The bill clarifies the Puyallup Tribe's right to access their own settlement funds and equalizes their standing with other tribes.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+5
The bill ensures the Puyallup Tribe can engage with the United States on the same basis as other federally recognized tribes.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
Access to tribal trust funds can support community services and economic stability for tribal members.
The opposite
Does this give the federal government more power?-2
The Secretary of the Interior must still approve the Tribe's management plan for fund withdrawals.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Trust Funds: The bill amends the 1989 Act to allow the Tribe to withdraw amounts from the trust fund under a management plan approved by the Secretary pursuant to the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (Section 2(a)).
-
Equality in Federal Engagement: A new savings provision ensures that nothing in the original 1989 Act prevents the United States from engaging with the Tribe on the same basis as other federally recognized Indian Tribes under any Federal law enacted after this Act (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+6Good For Low Income Households+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power-2
- 2/5/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/3/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington