[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS LAND TRANSFER CLARIFICATION ACT OF 2012

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                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 17, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3193, 
which amends the Native American Technical Corrections Act of 2004 to 
revise the description of the land to be held in trust for the Barona 
Band of Mission Indians of California. This noncontroversial bill 
states that the parcel of private, non-Indian land that is excluded 
from the revised description was not intended to be held in trust for 
the Band or considered to be part of its reservation.
  As a member of the Native American Caucus, I have worked with my 
colleagues in Congress to address the needs of Native Americans. 
California is home to nearly one hundred federally recognized tribes. I 
have made it a priority of mine in Congress to safeguard the interests 
of our tribes.
  After thousands of years of peaceful life in the region, known today 
as San Diego County, Native American life was abruptly changed in the 
late 1700s. More than 200 years of hardship for Native Americans began 
with the arrival of the Spanish military and the establishment of the 
first presidio and mission in 1769.
  In 1875, the Federal Government established the Capitan Grande 
Reservation for the native people living in the area at that time. 
About 40 years later in 1932, the city literally bought the Capitan 
Grande Reservation to build a reservoir and the people were removed 
from their land.
  In 1932, without a homeland but with some Federal monies allotted 
from the sale, a group of the Capitan Grande tribal members purchased 
the Barona Ranch which today is the Barona Indian Reservation near 
Lakeside, about 30 miles northeast of San Diego. For many years living 
without electricity and other services, the tribal members tried to 
create a living through the ranch and farming.
  Until the early 1990s, the Barona Tribe was still struggling 
economically in the backwoods of San Diego County. In 1994, the tribe, 
with the consulting guidance of Venture Catalyst, opened the Barona 
Casino ``Big Top'', and this property eventually became the world-class 
Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino.
  The casino has become the means to a restoration of self-sufficiency, 
prosperity and renewed hope. Unemployment and welfare dependency have 
dropped from 70 percent to zero on the Barona reservation.
  Mr. Speaker, the Barona Band of Mission Indians has a long and strong 
tradition that continues to this day. I urge my colleagues to join me 
in supporting this legislation.

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