[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S7336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 3635: A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take into 
trust 2 parcels of Federal land for the benefit of certain Indian 
Pubelos on the State of New Mexico; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
Albuquerque Indian Schools Act of 2006. I want to thank Senator 
Bingaman for joining me as a cosponsor of the bill.
  The Albuquerque Indian Schools--AIS--Act of 2006 seeks to consolidate 
two parcels of federal land and take this land into trust for the 19 
pueblos--Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Ohkay Owingeh, 
Picuris, Pojoaque, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, Sandia, Santa Ana, Santa 
Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia and Zuni. I believe this 
property, if transferred, would receive greater utilization and benefit 
the economic development of the 19 pueblos.
  In 1981, the 19 New Mexico pueblos petitioned the United States for 
the transfer of 44 acres from the Albuquerque Indian School site for 
the purpose of economic development and in 1984 the Assistant Secretary 
of the Interior conveyed the 44 acres to the pueblos. This land is 
currently under development by the 19 New Mexico pueblos. They have 
constructed a 150,000 square foot Department of the Interior building 
which houses the southern regional office of the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, BIA, and a 150,000 square foot Department of the Interior 
office building that houses the National BIA Training Center and the 
BIA Data Center. In addition, the pueblos are starting construction on 
a hotel and are preparing to begin several retail projects.
  In 2003, the 19 pueblos requested conveyance of the two remaining 
tracts of land that are located south of Interstate 40. This land 
contains various metal buildings, which have deteriorated to the point 
that they have no value at this time.
  The return of these two properties to the 19 pueblos is supported by 
the southwestern regional office of the BIA. With the addition of these 
two tracts, the 19 pueblos will be able to continue their successful 
economic development of the Albuquerque Indian School property, which 
will benefit not only the 19 New Mexico pueblos, but each individual 
tribal member.
  Mr. President I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3635

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Albuquerque Indian School 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) 19 pueblos.--The term ``19 Pueblos'' means the New 
     Mexico Indian Pueblos of--
       (A) Acoma;
       (B) Cochiti;
       (C) Isleta;
       (D) Jemez;
       (E) Laguna;
       (F) Nambe;
       (G) Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan);
       (H) Picuris;
       (I) Pojoaque;
       (J) San Felipe;
       (K) San Ildefonso;
       (L) Sandia;
       (M) Santa Ana;
       (N) Santa Clara;
       (O) Santo Domingo;
       (P) Taos;
       (Q) Tesuque;
       (R) Zia; and
       (S) Zuni.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior (or a designee).

     SEC. 3. LAND TAKEN INTO TRUST FOR BENEFIT OF 19 PUEBLOS.

       (a) Action by Secretary.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall take into trust all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     land described in subsection (b) (including any improvements 
     and appurtenances to the land) for the benefit of the 19 
     Pueblos.
       (2) Administration.--The Secretary shall--
       (A) take such action as the Secretary determines to be 
     necessary to document the transfer under paragraph (1); and
       (B) appropriately assign each applicable private and 
     municipal utility and service right or agreement.
       (b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in 
     subsection (a)(1) is the 2 tracts of Federal land, the 
     combined acreage of which is approximately 18.3046 acres, 
     that were historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School, 
     more particularly described as follows:
       (1) Tract b.--The approximately 5.9211 acres located in 
     sec. 7 and sec. 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico 
     Principal Meridian in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as 
     identified on the map entitled ``Site Map of the Albuquerque 
     Indian School Property'' (including attachments).
       (2) Tract d.--The approximately 12.3835 acres located in 
     sec. 7 and sec. 8 of T. 10 N., R. 3 E., of the New Mexico 
     Principal Meridian in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as 
     identified on the map entitled ``Site Map of the Albuquerque 
     Indian School Property'' (including attachments).
       (c) Use of Land.--The land taken into trust under 
     subsection (a) shall be used for the educational, health, 
     cultural, business, and economic development of the 19 
     Pueblos.
       (d) Limitations and Conditions.--The land taken into trust 
     under subsection (a) shall remain subject to any private or 
     municipal encumbrance, right-of-way, restriction, easement of 
     record, or utility service agreement in effect on the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. EFFECT OF OTHER LAWS.

       (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     section, land taken into trust under section 3(a) shall be 
     subject to Federal laws relating to Indian land.
       (b) Gaming.--No gaming activity (within the meaning of the 
     Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.)) shall 
     be carried out on land taken into trust under section 3(a).

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I'm pleased today to join my colleague 
Senator Domenici in sponsoring the Albuquerque Indian School Act. This 
bill would direct the Secretary of Interior to take lands no longer 
being used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Albuquerque and hold them 
in trust for the benefit of the 19 pueblos. The bill disallows gaming 
on the property.
  In addition to being a good thing for the pueblos, this transfer 
promises to be beneficial to the surrounding community, as several 
deteriorating structures will be renewed and new jobs brought in. Since 
the bill would not alter the standard public process for taking the 
lands into trust, I hope this will result in a consensus among all 
concerned on the best uses of the property.
  I am pleased we are taking the first step today on a process that 
should be beneficial to the pueblos, the Federal Government, and local 
residents.
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