[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TRIBAL SELF-GOVERNANCE ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 4347, 
``The Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act.'' This 
legislation gets us much closer to fulfilling our special nation-to-
nation relationship with Native American people and tribes in our 
country. H.R. 4347 includes critical amendments to the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act that essentially allow for 
greater self-governance by Indian tribes; it directs the Secretaries of 
the Departments of the Interior and Health and Human Services to 
implement criteria that make it possible for more tribes to learn about 
and eventually enter into self-governance compacts or agreements to 
administer whole programs currently performed by the Federal 
Government. In addition to enhancing their sovereignty, this 
legislation has the potential to significantly improve the 
effectiveness of social, education, and health programs because leaders 
within specific Indian Tribes are often in the best position to 
determine the needs of their communities. Additionally, as suggested by 
a 2004 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Indian 
tribes that participated in self-governance agreements often 
experienced greater growth in employment levels from 1990 to 2000 
compared to those that had either lower or no participation in these 
programs.
  I have been an ardent supporter of tribal sovereignty throughout my 
career as an elected official, and advocated to ensure that the Federal 
Government is accountable for exercising its full fiduciary 
responsibility. During my early career as an educator, I traveled 
through Indian Country doing educational research for Stanford 
University. Over the past 15 years serving in the California State 
Assembly and U.S. Congress, I have authored legislation and voted to 
support measures that respect and protect tribal sovereignty.
  As a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus since coming 
to Congress in 2001, I have been a strong supporter of full respect and 
recognition of tribal jurisdictions, for the expansion of tribal 
courts, the protection of Indian water and fishing rights, increased 
funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and key programs serving 
Indian Country. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I 
have fought to increase funding for vital self-governance programs and 
funding for programs serving Indian Country.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the House of Representatives 
has taken a significant step in the right direction!

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