[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 84 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAFFIRMING AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO TAKE LAND INTO TRUST 
                           FOR INDIAN TRIBES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 2019

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
article from The Washington Examiner regarding consideration of H.R. 
375.

              [From The Washington Examiner, May 13, 2019]

  House Democrats rescheudle votes on tribal bills pulled after Trump 
                                 tweet

                             (by Naomi Lim)

       House Democrats have rescheduled votes on two Native 
     American tribal bills this week after they were yanked from 
     the floor at the last minute following pressure from 
     President Trump.
       Democratic leadership has set a vote for Wednesday on H.R. 
     312, legislation co-sponsored by Rep. William Keating, D-
     Mass., maintaining the status of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe 
     reservation in the Bay State.
       A second proposal, H.R. 375, introduced by Rep. Tom Cole, 
     R-Okla., would reaffirm Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's 
     authority to take land into trust on behalf of Indian tribes. 
     That measure is also due to be considered Wednesday, but 
     under a streamlined process requiring two-thirds support in 
     the House. As such, it needs the backing of House 
     Republicans.
       ``Both of the bills pulled from the floor of the House, 
     H.R. 375 and H.R. 312, are important to Indian Country,'' 
     Cole told the Washington Examiner in a statement on Monday. 
     ``I support both of the bills and look forward to working 
     with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to pass them on 
     the floor. I believe we will be successful in doing so.''
       But GOP lawmakers like Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar, 
     R-Ariz., have said they will not help the legislation pass 
     the chamber. A spokeswoman for Gosar told the Washington 
     Examiner on Monday her boss, who sits on the House Natural 
     Resources Committee with Cole, was ``strongly opposed'' to 
     the proposals and would vote against them ``in their current 
     form.''
       ``Gosar has been leading the charge against these bills 
     since they were first brought up in Natural Resources 
     Committee. He offered two amendments to both bills in 
     committee--both failed,'' the spokeswoman said.
       H.R. 312 and H.R. 375 were originally scheduled for votes 
     on May 8, but were yanked after Trump tweeted that they would 
     be ``unfair'' to Native Americans.
       The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe wants to build a $1 billion 
     casino on its land, but the deal has been delayed by the 
     Interior Department and Rhode Island lawmakers worried the 
     development will undercut profits generated by its own casino 
     industry.
       The opposition has resulted in the Massachusetts 
     congressional delegation, including Democratic 2020 
     presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to push for the 
     measure so the tribe can have full control of the 
     reservation. Matt Schlapp, American Conservative Union 
     chairman and husband of White House communications director 
     Mercedes Schlapp, additionally runs a firm that lobbied 
     against the casino.
       ``Republicans shouldn't vote for H.R. 312, a special 
     interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas) 
     Warren,'' Trump tweeted last Wednesday. ``It is unfair and 
     doesn't treat Native Americans equally!''
       Schlapp did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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