[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A BILL TO AMEND THE ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RELIEF AND EMERGENCY 
                             ASSISTANCE ACT

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to introduce a bill to amend 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to 
authorize Indian tribes to directly request the President for a major 
disaster or emergency declaration. This has been a priority for Indian 
country for over a decade and upon enactment, will treat Indian tribes 
as the sovereign governments that they are.
  Currently, Indian tribes experiencing a disaster or emergency 
situation must rely upon a State governor to request the President for 
a declaration. Not only is this contrary to tribal sovereignty but it 
also requires the President to consider the State's, not the tribe's, 
ability to pay for the damages. The State's authority or willingness to 
provide assistance to the tribe is not considered in the determination 
process.
  Under this legislation, tribes may still request the State to make 
the declaration on their behalf but it provides another avenue for 
those tribes who want to exercise their sovereignty or where a State 
may be unable or unwilling to make a request on a tribe's behalf.
  I am pleased that the Republican co-chairman of the Native American 
Caucus, Mr. Tom Cole, and the Ranking Member of the subcommittee of 
jurisdiction, Ms. Norton, agreed to cosponsor this important 
legislation with me. Letters of support have also been received from 
the National Congress of American Indians as well as other tribal 
organizations and individual Indians involved in emergency management.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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