REAFFIRMING AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO TAKE LAND INTO TRUST FOR INDIAN TRIBES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 84
(Extensions of Remarks - May 20, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REAFFIRMING AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO TAKE LAND INTO TRUST
FOR INDIAN TRIBES
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speech of
HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA
of arizona
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following
article from The Washington Examiner regarding consideration of H.R.
375.
[From The Washington Examiner, May 13, 2019]
House Democrats rescheudle votes on tribal bills pulled after Trump
tweet
(by Naomi Lim)
House Democrats have rescheduled votes on two Native
American tribal bills this week after they were yanked from
the floor at the last minute following pressure from
President Trump.
Democratic leadership has set a vote for Wednesday on H.R.
312, legislation co-sponsored by Rep. William Keating, D-
Mass., maintaining the status of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
reservation in the Bay State.
A second proposal, H.R. 375, introduced by Rep. Tom Cole,
R-Okla., would reaffirm Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's
authority to take land into trust on behalf of Indian tribes.
That measure is also due to be considered Wednesday, but
under a streamlined process requiring two-thirds support in
the House. As such, it needs the backing of House
Republicans.
``Both of the bills pulled from the floor of the House,
H.R. 375 and H.R. 312, are important to Indian Country,''
Cole told the Washington Examiner in a statement on Monday.
``I support both of the bills and look forward to working
with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to pass them on
the floor. I believe we will be successful in doing so.''
But GOP lawmakers like Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar,
R-Ariz., have said they will not help the legislation pass
the chamber. A spokeswoman for Gosar told the Washington
Examiner on Monday her boss, who sits on the House Natural
Resources Committee with Cole, was ``strongly opposed'' to
the proposals and would vote against them ``in their current
form.''
``Gosar has been leading the charge against these bills
since they were first brought up in Natural Resources
Committee. He offered two amendments to both bills in
committee--both failed,'' the spokeswoman said.
H.R. 312 and H.R. 375 were originally scheduled for votes
on May 8, but were yanked after Trump tweeted that they would
be ``unfair'' to Native Americans.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe wants to build a $1 billion
casino on its land, but the deal has been delayed by the
Interior Department and Rhode Island lawmakers worried the
development will undercut profits generated by its own casino
industry.
The opposition has resulted in the Massachusetts
congressional delegation, including Democratic 2020
presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to push for the
measure so the tribe can have full control of the
reservation. Matt Schlapp, American Conservative Union
chairman and husband of White House communications director
Mercedes Schlapp, additionally runs a firm that lobbied
against the casino.
``Republicans shouldn't vote for H.R. 312, a special
interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas)
Warren,'' Trump tweeted last Wednesday. ``It is unfair and
doesn't treat Native Americans equally!''
Schlapp did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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