[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




VIEJAS BANK OF KUMEYAAY INDIANS RECEIVES LABOR'S SPIRIT OF COOPERATION 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2005

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay 
Indians for receiving the ``Spirit of Cooperation Award'' by the San 
Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
  The Viejas Band, one of the remaining 12 bands of the Kumeyaay Indian 
Nation, has approximately 289 members living on the 1,600 acre 
reservation in the Viejas Valley, east of Alpine.
  The Viejas Band is recognized as a sovereign government by the United 
States, with which it maintains a government-to-government 
relationship. Only a few years ago, Viejas Reservation unemployment was 
as high as 80 percent. Today, as a result of revenues from tribal 
government gaming and other business enterprises, every Viejas tribal 
member has a job and no tribal members are on welfare. The band has 
built new homes, improved older residences, expanded the Tribal 
Government Center, and has constructed a community park, fire station, 
and a senior citizen center.
  In addition, the band has embarked on a multi-million dollar series 
of environmental projects to restore the reservation land, watershed, 
streams and wetlands. Gaming has created approximately 12,000 jobs, 
primarily for non-Indian residents of the San Diego Region.
  In 2001, the estimated payroll for gaming Tribes was more than $237 
million, and employer-paid Federal and State payroll taxes are 
estimated to have been over $30 million. Viejas is a proud union 
employer and workers of the casino are part of Communication Workers of 
America Local 9400. Viejas is leading the way in bringing together 
communities and setting a great example of conducting business.
  Congratulations to Viejas on receiving Labor's 2005 ``Spirit of 
Cooperation Award.''

                          ____________________