[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 44 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        S. 1654, TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO NATIVE AMERICANS' LAWS

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 1994

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, today this Chamber will consider S. 1654, a 
bill making technical amendments to several laws relating to Native 
Americans. This bill contains provisions to add three parcels of land 
to the reservation of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde 
Community of Oregon, to make those lands a permanent part of the Grand 
Ronde Tribe's homeland. It was a pleasure working on this bill with my 
Oregon colleague, Congressman Kopetski. I would also like to express my 
gratitude to Chairman Richardson for his invaluable efforts with this 
bill.
  The passage of this legislation is, I believe, a fitting memorial to 
Mr. Ray McKnight, a member of the Grand Ronde Tribal Council, who died 
last Saturday, at age 70. Ray McKnight helped select and oversee the 
Tribe's acquisition of those three parcels of land, which today are 
occupied by the Tribal headquarters, community center, elders facility, 
and forestry office. Those facilities themselves reflect Mr. McKnight. 
He was a life-long logger who in his later years gave up his rough and 
tumble ways to join the Grand Ronde Tribal Council, where he served 
steadfastly and honorably until the end. Appropriately, he was on the 
Council's forestry Committee, and took part in the Grand Ronde 
Reservation Act, the legislation that re-established his Tribe's 
homeland.
  Ray McKnight was a down-to-earth man with a warm, gruff humor. He 
always had a kind word for everyone. As a member of the Tribal Council, 
he brought solid common sense to the deliberations, and was a strong 
supporter of Native American rights for both individuals and Tribal 
governments. He will be sorely missed by his family, his many friends, 
and the people of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. I extend my 
condolences to the members of that community, and hope that S. 1654 may 
serve as a fitting memorial to Ray McKnight.

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