[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 62 (Monday, May 6, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2411-H2412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE TRUST LAND ACT

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 507) to provide for the conveyance of certain 
inholdings owned by the United States to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of 
Arizona, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 507

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Pascua Yaqui Tribe Trust 
     Land Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
     apply:
       (1) District.--The term ``District'' means the Tucson 
     Unified School District, a school district recognized as such 
     under the laws of the State of Arizona.
       (2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map titled ``PYT Land 
     Department'' and dated January 15, 2013.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Pascua Yaqui Tribe 
     of Arizona, a federally recognized Indian tribe.

     SEC. 3. LANDS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

       (a) Parcel A.--Subject to subsection (c) and to valid 
     existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to the approximately 10 acres of Federal lands 
     generally depicted on the map as Parcel A are declared to be 
     held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the 
     Tribe.
       (b) Parcel B.--Subject to subsection (c) and valid existing 
     rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States 
     in and to the approximately 10 acres of Federal lands 
     generally depicted on the map as Parcel B are declared to be 
     held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the 
     Tribe.
       (c) Effective Date.--Subsections (a) and (b) shall take 
     effect on the day after the date on which--
       (1) the District relinquishes all right, title, and 
     interest of the District in and to the land described in 
     subsection (b); and
       (2) the Secretary (or a delegate of the Secretary) approves 
     and records the lease agreement between the Tribe and the 
     District for the construction and operation of a regional 
     transportation facility located on the restricted Indian land 
     of the Tribe in accordance with the requirements of the first 
     section of the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the leasing 
     of restricted Indian lands for public, religious, 
     educational, recreational, residential, business, and other 
     purposes requiring the grant of long-term leases'', approved 
     August 9, 1955 (25 U.S.C. 415), and part 162 of title 25, 
     Code of Federal Regulations (including successor 
     regulations).

     SEC. 4. GAMING PROHIBITION.

       The Tribe may not conduct gaming activities on the lands 
     held in trust under this Act, as a matter of claimed inherent 
     authority, or under the authority of any Federal law, 
     including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et 
     seq.) or under any regulations thereunder promulgated by the 
     Secretary or the National Indian Gaming Commission.

     SEC. 5. WATER RIGHTS.

       (a) In General.--There shall not be Federal reserved rights 
     to surface water or groundwater for any land taken into trust 
     by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe under this 
     Act.
       (b) State Water Rights.--The Tribe retains any right or 
     claim to water under State law for any land taken into trust 
     by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe under this 
     Act.
       (c) Forfeiture or Abandonment.--Any water rights that are 
     appurtenant to land taken into trust by the United States for 
     the benefit of the Tribe under this Act may not be forfeited 
     or abandoned.
       (d) Administration.--Nothing in this Act affects or 
     modifies any right of the Tribe or any obligation of the 
     United States under Public Law 95-375 (25 U.S.C. 1300f et 
     seq.).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 507 directs the Secretary of the Interior to take 
two 10-acre parcels into trust for a tribe in Arizona. These two 
parcels are both completely surrounded by either the tribe's 
reservation or by fee lands owned by the tribe. Before the parcels can 
be taken into trust, however, the Tucson Unified School District will 
first need to relinquish its possessory interest in one parcel. The 
school district no longer needs the land, which it had previously 
received under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.
  The Secretary of the Interior will also need to approve a lease 
agreement between the tribe and the school district for the 
construction and operation of a regional transportation facility on the 
tribe's land.
  Both parcels would be utilized as part of a golf course that is 
currently under construction. Neither parcel is necessary for the 
construction of the golf course, but if the tribe does not acquire and 
use these parcels, they will be orphaned and of relatively no use to 
either the tribe or to the United States.
  As has become customary when taking land into trust, the bill 
includes language that prohibits any gaming on the two parcels to be 
taken into trust.
  Finally, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arizona for his 
bill, and I urge its adoption.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1720

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H2412]]

  H.R. 507 is an important piece of legislation that will enable the 
Pascua Yaqui Tribe in my district in Arizona to consolidate its 
landholdings and remove two isolated, undeveloped parcels of land from 
the Bureau of Land Management responsibility.
  The two 10-acre parcels are islands of ``trapped'' Federal land 
surrounded by Pascua Yaqui land on all sides. The tribe is developing a 
golf course in this area, and conveying these two parcels to the tribe 
will make managing the land easier for the tribe and the Federal 
Government.
  Without this legislation, the tribe would have to design around the 
parcels, slowing down the project, weakening economic development that 
will benefit the entire Yaqui community. Passage of this bill will 
further the Federal Government's responsibility to enhance tribal trust 
resources.
  I want to thank my colleagues and the leadership within the Natural 
Resources Committee for making this bill a priority for passage this 
session. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 507, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 507.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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