[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF FEDERAL INDIAN RECOGNITION REFORM LEGISLATION

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                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, our Federal Indian recognition process is 
broken. Recognition decisions don't take months to decide, they take 
years--and sometimes decades. Towns and other interested parties--
sometimes forced to spend millions because of federal recognition 
policies--rightfully believe their concerns and comments are often 
ignored. Criteria for recognition has been overlooked rather than 
upheld under previous BIA administrators. In short, the public and 
Indian tribes have lost faith in the current recognition process.
  A new administration has brought some hope in fixing this important 
process. To this end, I am rising today to introduce legislation that 
lays out a seven-point plan for reforming the federal Indian 
recognition process.
  Specifically, my bill would first require the BIA to notify states 
whenever a tribe within them files for federal recognition. The state 
must in turn ensure that notice is given to towns adjacent to that 
tribe.
  Second, the legislation would require the BIA to accept and consider 
any testimony--including from surrounding towns and others--that bears 
on whether or not BIA recognizes a tribe.
  Third, under my measure, the BIA would be required to find 
affirmatively that all recognition criteria are met in order to confer 
federal recognition and any decision conferring recognition must be 
accompanied by a written set of findings as to how all criteria have 
been satisfied.
  Fourth, I put forth language that would double--from $900,000 to $1.8 
million--the resources for the BIA's Branch of Acknowledgment and 
Research Division to upgrade its recognition process.
  To help localities adversely affected by federally recognized tribes, 
my bill provides $8 million in grants to local governments to assist 
such governments in participating in certain decisions related to 
certain Indian groups and Indian tribes. These grants could be applied 
retroactively to any local government that has spent money on decisions 
related to certain Indian groups and/or tribes.
  In addition, my legislation also creates a grant program of $10 
million to be made available to federally impacted towns for relevant 
infrastructure, public safety and social service needs directly related 
to tribal activities.
  And lastly, the measure would institute a ``cooling off period'' of 
one year, in which any high-level BIA official could not appear before 
their former agency.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce this bill with three of my 
colleagues from Connecticut--Mrs. Johnson and Messrs. Shays and 
Maloney--and the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Green. I urge others who 
care about federal Indian recognition issues to join us in working 
toward a recognition process that is fair, open and respectful to all 
parties involved.

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