Teresa Leger Fernandez

Latest speeches

1. Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 7269 (Rep. Randall), "Helping Out People Act of 2026" and H.R. 8674 (Rep. Begich), "Geese House Site Conveyance Act" · U.S. House of Representatives · 17 September 2026

   • Chair: legislative record and overview of both bills

     “Thank you so much, Chairman Hurd, and how could I not be here? We have witnesses who traveled through many time zones and probably had to change planes several times to get here from Alaska and from Seattle. And this…”

     Watch from 13:57

   • Ranking member: bipartisan agenda and bill impacts

     “I have legislation that would protect cultural sites' sensitive information from FOIA requests. We don't want this information to get out there because then our the sacred sites, the sensitive sites get raided, get looted. This is would be a…”

     Watch from 15:08

   • Ranking member Q&A: self-determination and access to sacred lands

     “Thank you very much, Chairman. And I think maybe I'll go backwards, and Councilwoman Annette Bryan, I think you gave a good example of how the tribe actually has expertise already in this and has set out a system and…”

     Watch from 43:24
   1 more clip in this sitting

2. Legislative Hearing on: • H.R. 177 (Rep. McClintock), “Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act” • H.R. 3717 (Rep. Harder), “Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025” • H.R. 5935 (Rep. Calvert), “Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act” • H.R. 6869 (Rep. Leger Fernandez), To amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act to modify a provision relating to the extension of certain dates for the completion of the Regional Water System, and for other purposes. • H.R. 8546 (Rep. Issa), “Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act” • H.R. 9017 (Rep. Donalds), “Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act” • H.R. 9590 (Rep. Webster), “SAFE for Manatees Act” • H.R. 10117 (Rep. Steube), “GATOR Act” · U.S. House of Representatives · 16 September 2026

   • Agua Caliente, Pechanga, Aamodt leaders: tribal settlement testimonies

     “Thank you very much, Madam Chair, ranking member. I want to welcome Governor Christopher Moquino of San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico. In Tewa, the pueblo is called P'ohwhogeh Ówîngge, which means where the water cuts through. Today, though, there…”

     Watch from 1:13:26

   • Leger Fernandez and Moquino: rationale for extending Aamodt deadlines

     “Thank you. And thank you to all our witnesses. I think that, you know, those of us who live in the West and now I think across the country understand the importance of coming to agreement on these water rights…”

     Watch from 1:47:00

   • Leger Fernandez and Moquino: rationale for extending Aamodt deadlines

     “And I want to emphasize something that your written testimony, your original testimony and that you answered today is, is that if we don't act, basically it doesn't matter whether the project is complete, it doesn't matter if there's money…”

     Watch from 1:50:02

3. Legislative hearing on: H.R. 642 (Rep. Steube), “Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 2025”; H.R. 5470 (Rep. LaHood), “Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act”; H.R. 6788 (Rep. Downing), “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act”; H.R. 9269 (Rep. Clyburn), “Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act”; H.R. 9600 (Rep. Raskin), "Common Sense Act 250 Act of 2026"; H.R. 9779 (Rep. Gonzalez), “Hands Off Our Boca Chica Beach Act of 2026” ; H.R. 10128 (Rep. McClintock), To codify Secretary's Order No. 3434 of the Department of the Interior; H.R. 10136 (Rep. Westerman), “Crossett Experimental Forest Act of 2026”; S. 675 (Rep. Hoeven) “Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Act” · U.S. House of Representatives · 2 September 2026

   • Leger Fernandez: Route 66 cultural and economic significance

     “I am so thankful to be here to focus on sort of some of what our history is and why it should be recognized. I am a co-lead of the Route 66 bill, and I want to both thank Representative…”

     Watch from 2:11:56

   • Leger Fernandez: Route 66 cultural and economic significance

     “Right. And let's hope we can get it done, right? Because we had made a commitment to wonderful Representative Napolitano, let's get this done. You know, I have my, you know, cruising, cruising on Route 66 because that's what we…”

     Watch from 2:15:49

4. Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 1451 (Rep. Brecheen), “Quapaw Tribal Settlement Act of 2025”; H.R. 2302 (Rep. McClintock), “Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025”; H.R. 2389 (Rep. Randall), “Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act”; and H.R. 2400 (Rep. LaMalfa), “Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025”. · U.S. House of Representatives · 30 April 2025

   • Ranking Member: oversight, funding cuts, BIA offices

     “Thank you so much, Chair Walberg, and thank you for sitting in and heading up this hearing. And thank you as always to the witnesses for being here. As the tribal witnesses know well and the administration witnesses, I think,…”

     Watch from 14:11

   • Ranking Member: support for the four bills

     “Representative McClintock's bill of the 204 acres located in El Dorado County, California, and Representative LaMalfa's 538 acres of land, which will then be able to be used by the Pit River Tribe of California. Each bill is going to…”

     Watch from 18:30

   • Ranking Member Q&A: BIA office closures and trust rules

     “Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The three bills that we're considering today, three of the bills that we're considering today use the legislative process to put land into trust mandatory. But as you mentioned, tribes can also petition the…”

     Watch from 39:13
   4 more clips in this sitting