[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   99-YEAR TRIBAL LEASE AUTHORITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2010

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, S.1448 is identical to legislation that I 
introduced in the House of Representatives with Representative Schrader 
in March. The bill accomplishes two things: 1) it corrects a disparity 
between federally recognized tribes in Oregon in how these tribes lease 
land held in trust, and 2) it incentivizes long term investment that 
will attract businesses and create jobs for Oregon tribes and nearby 
communities.
  Currently, four of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon are 
able to lease land held in trust by the federal government for up to 99 
years without going through a maze of bureaucracy and red tape at the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs. The 99 year lease authority is crucial to 
attracting and retaining long-term investment, incentivizing economic 
development projects on trust land, and creating jobs for communities 
that need them the most.
  But five of Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes--the Coquille, 
the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz, the Confederated Tribes of the 
Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, the Klamath, and the Burns Paiute do 
NOT have this important authority. These tribes are limited to 25 year 
leases or must rely on a lethargic BIA to approve longer leases on an 
individual basis.
  S.1448 fixes this disparity and gives all nine federally recognized 
tribes the same authority to pursue economic development and job-
creating activities on land held in trust.
  The bill enjoys bipartisan support, has no opposition in the state of 
Oregon, and passed the U.S. Senate without amendment and by unanimous 
consent. This is a no-brainer. It's good for the Tribes. It's good for 
rural and tribal communities. The bill will create jobs and incentivize 
financial investment. I ask my colleagues to pass this bill today on 
suspension and send it to President Obama for his signature.

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