[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2022-E2023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CLAIMS RESOLUTION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 30, 2010

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate 
Amendments to H.R.

[[Page E2023]]

4783, the Claims Resolution Act, and Cobell and Pigford II settlements 
now included.
  In 1996, Indian plaintiffs, including Eloise Cobell, filed a class 
action suit against the federal government for mismanagement of Indian 
trust land and other assets. During the 13 years that followed, courts 
repeatedly ruled in favor of the plaintiffs assertions that the 
government violated its trust responsibility, did not provide accurate 
accounting, and did not provide Indians with their share of the revenue 
from the Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. One year ago, on 
December 8, 2009, the plaintiffs and the U.S. Interior and Justice 
Departments announced a $3.4 billion settlement for this long-running 
suit.
  This settlement should have been approved by Congress in a timely 
manner. Too many deadlines for Congressional action have passed this 
year, requiring the settlement parties to keep extending the approval 
deadline. Tribal members whose trust accounts were mismanaged have 
waited too long for compensation. Already this year, I have voted for 
funding the settlement twice. Both times the funding passed the House 
only to have the funds stripped by Republican obstruction in the 
Senate. Finally, on November 19, the Senate passed the approval for the 
settlement in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution 
Act, and sent it back to us.
  In addition, I applaud the $1.15 billion settlement of the Pigford II 
class action lawsuit for finally rectifying an injustice that is an 
inexcusable stain on our Nation's history. In 1910, African American 
farmers owned 15 million acres of land. Now, that number has dwindled 
to two million acres. This settlement represents an important step 
forward towards ensuring the fair and equal treatment of all farmers, 
regardless of their race.
  These injustices have been perpetrated for decades, and today the 
House has the opportunity to vote again to uphold our end of the trust 
relationship with all American Indians and Alaska Natives and settle 
discrimination claims made by African American farmers.
  Though these funds come decades too late for many of the people 
affected, it is important for the U.S. Government to recognize the many 
past wrongs inflicted on the indigenous people of this country and 
black farmers who have been discriminated against. This is a vote that 
will make a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives, finally 
beginning to right some wrongs.
  For far too long, American Indian trust account holders and African 
American farmers have had to wait for justice. Today there will be 
justice, but it will not come without a fight against bigotry, 
intolerance, and the champions of inequality. The fact that some 
Republican voices, including a Member from Minnesota, are calling the 
settlement with African American farmers a fraud and a scam reflects 
the very racial intolerance and discrimination that are at the root of 
this settlement.
  With this legislation, the Federal Government can honor its 
commitment in a fiscally responsible manner. The funding is completely 
offset. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent. If it passes the 
House today, it will go directly to the President for his signature. I 
urge my colleagues to vote yes on the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4783 
because American Indians and African American farmers have waited long 
enough.

                          ____________________