[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6821-H6822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ALLOWING YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO TRIBE TO DETERMINE BLOOD REQUIREMENT FOR 
                               MEMBERSHIP

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 5811) to amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and 
Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to allow the Ysleta 
del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum requirement for 
membership in that tribe.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5811

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

     SECTION 1. BLOOD QUANTUM REQUIREMENT DETERMINED BY TRIBE.

       Section 108(a)(2) of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama 
     and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act (25 
     U.S.C. 1300g-7(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) any person of Tigua Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Indian 
     blood enrolled by the tribe.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Washington 
(Mr. Hastings) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  One of the greatest exercises of tribe sovereignty is the ability of 
a tribe to determine its tribal membership. This measure would allow a 
Texas tribe to determine the blood quantum requirement for membership 
in that tribe.
  My colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), introduced H.R. 
5811 to restore the tribe's right to determine its own membership 
requirements by deleting a blood quantum requirement specified in a 
1987 law. Passage of this legislation would extend to the tribe the 
same sovereign right possessed by all other Indian tribes: The ability 
to determine who is and who is not a member of that tribe.
  This measure is long overdue. I commend my colleague for introducing 
it. Similar legislation passed the House last Congress by unanimous 
consent. I urge Members to support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, the gentlelady from the 
Virgin Islands has adequately described this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding 
me this time, and the ranking member and the chairman for supporting 
this bill. It is a very important bill for us, for the Ysleta del Sur 
Pueblo Tribe and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 5811, a bill I introduced to 
amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes 
of Texas Restoration Act of 1987 to allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo 
Tigua tribe the authority to determine the blood quantum requirement 
for membership in their tribe. Since

[[Page H6822]]

coming to Congress, I have been proud to represent the Tiguas and I 
have continually fought to lift this requirement.
  My Congressional district in El Paso is home to the Tigua Ysleta del 
Sur Pueblo, the oldest community in Texas. They are one of the three 
Native American tribes and the only Pueblo tribe in the state. The 
Tiguas have maintained a significant presence in the El Paso region 
with tribal enrollment currently over 1,600 citizens. The Tiguas have 
also been very active participants in the regional business community 
for almost 40 years. The tribe strives to establish a business-friendly 
environment while maintaining their culture and traditions. The tribe 
owns and operates a diverse set of enterprises and corporations that 
provide employment for both tribal members and the El Paso community.
  However, the Tiguas are one of a very few federally-recognized tribes 
still required by Federal law to use a specified degree of blood 
quantum to determine membership. If the current \1/8\ degree 
requirement remains in effect, Tigua tribal membership will decline 
significantly within three generations.
  For decades, other tribal governments have used a variety of methods 
to determine membership. The decision to use a blood quantum 
requirement has been at the discretion of the tribe as a part of their 
tribal sovereignty. Tribes have also been able to determine if lineal 
and collateral descendents of members listed in their base rolls are 
eligible to be enrolled.
  My bill will allow the Tiguas the same opportunity as other 
recognized tribes to use these methods, and specifically blood quantum 
levels, to determine membership. With H.R. 5811, individuals removed 
from the rolls in previous years and others will be able to petition 
for enrollment. Historically, many of these members would normally have 
been included as members of the tribe.
  This bill is the life blood of the tribe. By modifying the tribal 
enrollment requirements, the Tiguas will be able to preserve the unique 
character and traditions of their tribe based on shared history, 
customs, and language in addition to tribal blood. This bill will 
ensure their survival as the oldest community in Texas and the only 
Pueblo still in existence in the State. This bill has passed twice 
before in the House of Representatives, and I urge my colleagues to 
support passage of this bill.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5811, 
which allows the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine the blood 
quantum requirement for membership in their tribe. I thank my 
colleague, Congressman Reyes for introducing this legislation.
  This legislation will specifically allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo 
Indian tribe to determine their membership. Native American tribes 
should be afforded the opportunity to determine the qualifications for 
membership in their tribes.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Native American Caucus, I will 
continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to address the unique 
needs of Native Americans.
  California is home to over one hundred federally recognized tribes. 
Earlier this month, I was able to meet with the Pauma Band of Mission 
Indians. The reservation is located in Pauma Valley, California. The 
Pauma Band of Mission Indians and others across the nation should be 
permitted to determine their requirements to be a member, rather than 
having to rely on some outside body to make this determination.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5811.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5811.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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