[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7495-S7496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WESTERN SHOSHONE CLAIMS DISTRIBUTION ACT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 592, H.R. 884.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 884) to provide for the use and distribution 
     of the funds awarded to the Western Shoshone identifiable 
     group under Indian Claims Commission Docket Numbers 326-A-1, 
     326-A-3, and 326-K, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 884) was read the third time and passed.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the legislation just passed has been 30 
years in the making. It deals with Shoshone Indians in the State of 
Nevada. It is a fund that has grown to about $150 million. Thousands of 
Indians will benefit from this fund.
  These people live in such desperate straits, many of them. Large 
numbers are on welfare. The places they live in are very difficult.
  I want everyone who reads this Record at some subsequent time to know 
that every entity that is involved with this legislation will receive 
thousands of dollars. They should also know that we are ready, willing, 
and able to meet with each one of them. If they have any problem with 
their land claims, we will work with them. This does not shut down any 
of their ability to change in some way, claim anything they had 
relating to land in the future.
  I know the time is late, but I must mention Larry Pifero. He is dead. 
He was on kidney dialysis and died. But he worked so hard on this 
legislation. Why? Because he wanted his family to wind up with 
something. And Larry now should know that his family will wind up with 
something. The other person is Nancy Stewart. She has spent months and 
months of her life trying to work this out. There were a few 
dissidents--for lack of a better way to describe them--people who 
wanted to do anything they could to upset this settlement. They did 
things that were wrong, but because 95 percent of the Shoshones in the 
State of Nevada wanted this approval, we had two votes, and they voted 
for approval.
  This is so important. Thousands of Indians have waited. Some, like 
Larry Pifero, are gone. They will never receive the benefit of this 
legislation, only their families will. But the Shoshone Indians of 
Nevada are better off today than they were yesterday. They have the 
hope of receiving some economic gain from their dealings with the U.S. 
Federal Government.
  I am so happy this has been done. This is a big day for thousands of 
Nevada Indians.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I very much appreciate the comments of the 
distinguished assistant minority leader. For me to be able to hear that 
is meaningful. It reminds me also that each piece of legislation we go 
to, we tend to go through quickly, especially

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at a late hour, has such a huge impact. It reflects the beauty in what 
we are able to accomplish by having the privilege of serving in this 
body.

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