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

H.R. 7325 would create a Truth and Healing Commission to formally investigate, document, and report on the history of Indian boarding schools operated or funded by the federal government from 1819 through the 1970s. These schools forcibly removed Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children from their families and communities with the goal of assimilating them by suppressing their languages, cultures, and identities. The commission would examine the long-term effects of these policies on Native peoples and survivors.

If enacted, the commission would work to locate records related to Native American children who attended these schools, gather testimony from survivors and descendants, and produce a comprehensive public report. The commission would also develop recommendations for Congress on potential reforms, reparative actions, and support for Native communities affected by boarding school policies. The bill aims to bring together survivors, experts, federal partners, and tribal leaders to provide answers and promote healing for those impacted by this historical period.