[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 167 (Wednesday, October 31, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H12351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REINTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF 
                            ANCIENT REMAINS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, last month the Senate 
Committee on Indian Affairs approved a bill that included a two-word 
addition to existing law that effectively blocks the scientific study 
of ancient skeletal remains discovered on Federal land. This change, 
tucked into what is being called a technical corrections bill, is very 
far from a minor ``technical correction.'' It is a fundamental shift in 
existing law and would overturn a decision of the Ninth Circuit Court, 
which is second only to the Supreme Court. Such an extreme action 
should not be hidden within a mostly noncontroversial bill.
  In its ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court expressly allowed the research 
and scientific study of ancient human remains found in the United 
States. The Senate bill seeks to quietly erase our Nation's ability to 
study our past and the planet's human history. The Tri-Cities community 
in my central Washington district needs no introduction to this issue. 
They experienced firsthand the court battles that ensued after the 
9,300-year-old Kennewick Man remains were discovered on the banks of 
the Columbia River in 1996. These remains are among the oldest found in 
North America, and the quality of the remains has the potential to 
yield researchers greater insight into the early history of man in 
North America.
  A full 8 years after the Kennewick Man's discovery, the Ninth Circuit 
Court ruled in 2004, as I have explained, that the remains were to be 
studied by scientists. Then, during the last Congress, the Senate first 
sought its two-word addition in ``technical corrections.'' I introduced 
a bill to challenge and publicize this action.
  Members of the Senate committee decided to try again last month in 
this Congress. I am forced once again to respond by reintroducing my 
bill. My bill very simply and plainly ensures the ability for 
scientific study of truly ancient remains. If this matter is pushed to 
the Senate, then let us have a full, open and honest debate about what 
the Senate Indian Affairs Committee would do to scientific study in our 
country. The effort to quietly slide through such a dramatic change 
needs to stop. Those who support it should explain why and give a 
justification.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope the introduction of my legislation will help 
bring balance to what is being done on the other side of the Capitol, 
and that scientific inquiry is not extinguished through the quiet acts 
of the United States.

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