President Barack Obama signs H.R. 205, the HEARTH Act of 2012, in the Oval Office, July 30, 2012. Standing behind the President, from left, are: Bryan Newland, Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of the Interior; Governor Randall Vicente, Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico; David Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior; Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians; Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii; interior Secretary Ken Salazar; Cheryl Causley, Chairperson of the National American Indian Housing Council; Governor Gregory Mendoza, Gila River Indian Community of Arizona; and Del Laverdure, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Washington, D.C. - NCAI President Jefferson Keel witnessed and applauded President Obama signing the HEARTH Act into law today.

"This is a very good new law for tribal self-determination. The law provides that Indian tribes will be able to lease their lands for up to 25 years without the need for Interior approval. This will streamline business development and housing development and create jobs on reservations across the country," President Keel said.

In a statement released following the passage of the legislation on July 18, 2012, Keel praised the praised the unanimous support for the HEARTH Act in both the House and Senate as an example of strong bipartisanship upholding the federal trust responsibility.

The White House released details of the signing event today on the White House blog in a post titled, Strengthening Tribal Communities Through the HEARTH Act.