South Dakota’s congressional delegation celebrates the National American Indian Veterans organization receiving their national charter.
Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune, along with Rep. Dusty Johnson, have all introduced previous legislation to get Native American veterans the same federal status as other veteran groups.
The trio of lawmakers introduced the legislation several times in recent years before it was finally passed in 2023. A ceremonial bill signing was held this week to mark the bill's passage.
"NAIV has been operating out of South Dakota for years without Congressional recognition," said Johnson. "There are more than 150,000 Native Veterans in the United States. Getting this Congressional Charter finalized ensures they receive the recognition they deserve."
The charter was signed into law in December 2023 as part of the National Defense Authorization act.
NAIV is headquartered in South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Reservation and serves indigenous peoples in all 50 states.
