[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 44 (Thursday, April 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3582-S3583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN:
  S. 2277. A bill to amend the Act of November 2, 1966 (80 Stat. 1112), 
to allow binding arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts 
affecting the land within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Reservation; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
provide a technical correction that would once again allow binding 
arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts affecting the land 
within the Salt River Pima-Mariposa Indian Community (SRPMIC). A 
companion bill is being introduced today by Congressman Hayworth.
  The SRPMIC located in Scottsdale, AZ, one of the most diversified 
economic development portfolios in Indian country. Blessed with a prime 
location in metropolitan Phoenix, the Tribe has nearly a dozen business 
enterprises including a sand and gravel operation, a cement company, 
two golf courses, and a shopping center. The tribe wants to continue 
diversifying their economy in the hopes of becoming economically self-
sufficient. This legislation is intended to help them achieve this 
goal.
  This bill would make technical corrections to title 2l5, U.S. Code, 
Section 416a(c) relating to ``binding arbitration of disputes.'' 
Recently, in an effort to consolidate and streamline various rules, 
regulations, and laws, some sections of Title 25, U.S. Code, Section 81 
were repealed that affected the Bureau of Indian Affairs. An unintended 
consequence of this consolidation was that the definition for leases, 
which included sublease, substitute lease, and master lease, was 
altered. Simply put, this legislation would reinstate the

[[Page S3583]]

prior definition for leases on the reservation to include subleases, 
substitute leases, and master leases. Without this clarification, the 
tribe fears that potential tenants may be leery to invest on tribal 
land.
  This legislation may seem minor, but it would go a long way toward 
helping the SRPMIC achieve the economic self-sufficiency it is working 
toward. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and 
work for its speedy passage.
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