[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7361-H7364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO AND ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBES OF TEXAS EQUAL AND 
                    FAIR OPPORTUNITY SETTLEMENT ACT

  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 759) to restore an opportunity for tribal economic 
development on terms that are equal and fair, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 759

       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 ``Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and 
     Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity 
     Settlement Act''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.

       The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian 
     Tribes of Texas Restoration Act (Public Law 100-89; 101 Stat. 
     666) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 301. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       ``Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude or 
     limit the applicability of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 
     (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).''.


[[Page H7362]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Guam (Mr. San Nicolas) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. 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 material on the measure under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 759, introduced by Representative Babin from Texas, 
amends the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribes of 
Texas Restoration Act of 1987 to clarify that the Indian Gaming 
Regulatory Act applies to both the Pueblo and the Tribe.
  The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas was federally terminated in 
1954, followed by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua 
Tribe, in 1968. Congress rightfully restored both the Pueblo and the 
Tribe in 1987 at one time by enacting the aforementioned Restoration 
Act.
  The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was enacted just 1 year later, in 
1988. The framework that it created should have applied to both the 
Pueblo and the Tribe, just as it did to every other Tribe. However, 
since the Restoration Act was passed at a time when Indian gaming was 
just emerging and Federal regulations had not yet been implemented, it 
contains a section regarding gaming.
  We know from the Congressional Record that the intent of this section 
of the Restoration Act was to clarify Indian gaming policy at the time, 
not to completely prohibit gaming on these lands in perpetuity, but 
that is what is occurring. The language in the Restoration Act has been 
used by the State of Texas to completely stymie the Pueblo's and the 
Tribe's ability to engage in Class II gaming, much to the detriment of 
the economic health and well-being of both the Pueblo and the Tribe.
  Additionally, the only other federally recognized Tribe in Texas, the 
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe, is allowed to operate a Class II gaming 
facility, as they were restored by Congress in 1983 without any type of 
gaming restrictions.
  H.R. 759 remedies this inequality by clarifying that the Pueblo and 
the Tribe, like the Kickapoo, have the same rights and responsibilities 
under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act as virtually every other 
federally recognized Tribe in the United States. The legislation 
confers no new or special rights to the Pueblo or the Tribe, nor does 
it in any way limit the existing rights of the State of Texas. This is 
simply a matter of parity and fairness.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 759, sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Babin), would amend the act of Congress that restored Federal 
recognition to the two Tribes in Texas that are the subject of this 
bill.
  The amendment would override a gaming limitation imposed by Congress 
on the Tribes, thereby authorizing the Tribes to operate the casinos 
regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 and not under 
Texas law.
  The question of whether Texas law or the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 
applies to the two Tribes is no longer under serious dispute. Federal 
courts have settled the question, and the result of the litigation is 
that the two Tribes may not conduct gaming under IGRA unless Congress 
enacts a measure to allow them to do so.
  This bill enjoys significant local support in the communities around 
the reservations of the two Tribes, and the Members who represent the 
Tribes strongly support enactment of the measure because the 
reservations, where the casinos would be operated, are within their 
districts.
  However, while the bill enjoys support in Texas, I must note that the 
Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has written letters to the House 
leaders and committee leaders in opposition to the legislation. In the 
view of the Governor, this bill allows the Tribes to violate the Texas 
constitution without the consent of the State of Texas.
  It is my hope that such concerns with the measure can be worked out 
as the legislative process continues.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young).
  (Mr. YOUNG asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this is about fairness, and when you have been in this 
office as long as I have been--I was here when we passed the 1984, the 
1985, and the 1986 gaming laws--we tried and expected to do the right 
thing for all Tribes. I say I have been involved with this. When I was 
chairman, we tried to do the same thing. It is the right thing to do. 
It is the fair thing to do. The most important thing is it is a simple 
matter of fairness.
  I will say it again. These two Tribes have been denied the same 
opportunity of every other federally recognized Tribe, including the 
Kickapoo Tribe, to engage in Class II gaming on their reservation. 
Class II is bingo.
  This legislation opens no new door to gaming in Texas. The Kickapoo 
Tribe has been offering bingo on their reservation for the better part 
of two decades with no interference from the State of Texas.
  Second, it should be noted that virtually all communities surrounding 
the Alabama-Coushatta reservation have passed a resolution endorsing 
this legislation. In fact, over 30 resolutions in favor of H.R. 759 
show that support for the bill runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Red 
River border on Oklahoma.
  This represents genuine grassroots support for the people who will be 
most impacted. Far from thwarting the will of the people of Texas, this 
legislation enables it.
  Mr. Speaker, from someone who has worked on this legislation a long 
time, I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation to 
solve an unfair state.
  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Babin).
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress to take on and address the 
tough issues facing our Nation and the world and leave it a better 
place for my grandchildren, which I will note climbed to number 16 with 
the arrival of Truett Ryan Babin just yesterday.
  When I say the tough issues, I mean the ones most of us would agree 
on: border security, immigration, taxes, trade, national security, and 
on and on.
  But when you take this job, you realize that working on behalf of 
your constituents as their elected Representative to the Federal 
Government can mean taking on issues that you weren't expecting to, and 
this is certainly one such case.
  But I am proud and honored to be here, and I thank the leaders from 
both sides of the aisle who have come together and worked with us to 
get H.R. 759, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of 
Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Settlement Act, passed favorably out 
of committee and here to the floor today.
  I am not in this fight because of a love for gaming. I am here 
because it is about fairness. It is about equal treatment under the 
law, jobs, and economic development and opportunity.
  With the exception of a few years in the military, I have lived in 
southeast Texas all of my life, and I have seen firsthand how these 
proud Native Americans have provided jobs and economic opportunity not 
only for members of their Tribe but for Texans throughout our entire 
region. That is why the 32 government and civic organizations who live 
and work closest to this reservation have given their strong 
endorsement of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the letters and resolutions from 
every one of them.

         Government & Community Entities in Support of H.R. 759

       Chambers County, Cherokee County Commissioners Court, CHI 
     St. Luke's Health Memorial, Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, 
     Deep East Texas Council of Governments, Hardin County 
     Commissioners Court, City of

[[Page H7363]]

     Ivanhoe, Jasper County Commissioners Court, Jasper Economic 
     Development Corp, Jefferson County Commissioners Court.
       City of Livingston, Texas, Livingston Rotary Club, Lufkin & 
     Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, Madison County 
     Commissioners Court, National Congress of American Indians, 
     Newton County Commissioners Court, City of Onalaska, Texas, 
     Orange County Commissioners Court, Polk County Chamber of 
     Commerce, Polk County Commissioners Court.
       Polk County GOP, The River Church, Sabine County 
     Commissioners Court, San Augustine County Commissioners 
     Court, San Jacinto County, Trinity County Commissioners 
     Court, Tyler County Chamber of Commerce, Tyler County 
     Hospital District, USET Sovereignty Protection, Walker County 
     Commissioners Court, Walling Printing Company, City of 
     Woodville.
                                  ____



                               resolution

       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is a 
     federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Polk County, 
     Texas and is committed to supporting the economic development 
     and creation of jobs within Polk County and surrounding 
     counties of Deep East Texas; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas' Naskila 
     electronic bingo facility, has created over 560 new jobs in 
     Deep East Texas and is the third largest employer in the 
     region, and is responsible for injecting nearly $140 million 
     annually in revenue to the region; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas provided over 
     46 fully paid collegiate scholarships for graduating high 
     school students of the Tribe in 2018; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas being a good 
     community partner, contributed $500,000 in donations after 
     Hurricane Harvey to several counties, and purchased 30 
     manufactured home units; and
       Whereas, United States Congressman Brian Babin (R-
     Woodville) has filed H.R. 759 to clarify conflicting federal 
     statutes regarding the right of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe 
     of Texas to offer Class II electronic bingo on their tribal 
     lands pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a right 
     enjoyed and exercised by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe 
     ofTexas since 1996; and
       Whereas, the passage of H.R. 759 is vital to continued 
     economic development and health of both the Alabama-Coushatta 
     Tribe of Texas and all Deep East Texas; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, the Cherokee County Commissioners Court hereby 
     joins the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas in support of its 
     effort for passage of H.R. 759 to clarify that the Tribe can 
     enjoy the opportunity for tribal economic development on 
     terms that are equal and fair, and to protect jobs. Further, 
     the Cherokee County Commissioners Court urgently requests 
     that United States Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of 
     Texas, as well as the other 35 Texans elected to the United 
     States House of Representatives, join Congressman Babin in 
     securing the enactment of H.R. 759 into law.
       Witness our hands this 9 day of July, 2019.
     Chris Davis,
       County Judge.
     Kelly Traylor,
       Commissioner, Precinct 1.
     Steven Norton,
       Commissioner, Precinct 2.
     Patrick Reagan,
       Commissioner, Precinct 3.
     Billy McCutcheon,
       Commissioner, Precinct 4.
                                  ____

       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is a 
     federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Polk County, 
     Texas and is committed to supporting the economic development 
     and creation of jobs within Polk and surrounding counties of 
     Deep East Texas; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas' Naskila 
     electronic bingo facility, has created over 560 new jobs in 
     Deep East Texas and is the third largest employer in the 
     region, and is responsible for injecting nearly $140 million 
     annually in revenue to the region; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas provided over 
     46 fully paid collegiate scholarships for graduating high 
     school students of the Tribe in 2018; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas being a good 
     community partner, contributed $500,000 in donations after 
     Hurricane Harvey to several counties, and purchased 30 
     manufactured home units; and
       Whereas, United States Congressman Brian Babin (R-
     Woodville) has filed H.R. 759 to clarify conflicting federal 
     statutes regarding the right of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe 
     of Texas to offer Class II electronic bingo on their tribal 
     lands pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a right 
     enjoyed and exercised by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of 
     Texas since 1996; and
       Whereas, the passage of H.R. 759 is vital to continued 
     economic development and health of both the Alabama-Coushatta 
     Tribe of Texas and all Deep East Texas; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, the CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial hereby joins 
     the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas in support of its effort 
     for passage of H.R. 759 to clarify that the Tribe can enjoy 
     the opportunity for tribal economic development on terms that 
     are equal and fair, and to protect jobs. Further, the CHI St. 
     Luke's Health Memorial urgently requests that United States 
     Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as the 
     other 35 Texans elected to the United States House of 
     Representatives, join Congressman Babin in securing the 
     enactment of H.R. 759 into law.
       Approved this 26 day of March, 2019.

                                               Monte Bostwick,

                                   Market Chief Executive Officer,
     CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial.
                                  ____



                                        Greater Cleveland Chamber,
                                 Cleveland, Texas, April 24, 2019.
     Naskila Gaming,
     Yolanda Poncho, Public Relations Manager, Alabama-Coushatta 
         Tribe of Texas, Livingston, Texas.
       Dear Mrs. Poncho: Thanks to you and your team for the 
     presentation to our Board on Thursday, April 4, 2019 
     regarding a resolution by our board supporting HR 459.
       Our Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, 4/18/19 and 
     discussed the issue. After review by our board and it has 
     been determined that Greater Cleveland Chamber By-Laws will 
     not allow a resolution endorsing the bill.
       The Board did vote to send give the attached letter 
     supporting Naskila.
       I hope this helps your cause and thank all of you a Naskila 
     for the support your give to the Chamber and the Cleveland 
     community.
       Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions 
     regarding the above.
           Respectfully,
     Charlie Rice,
       President & Chairman of the Board.
     Jim Carson,
       Vice President and COO.
                                  ____

                                        Greater Cleveland Chamber,
                                 Cleveland, Texas, April 24, 2019.
       To Whom It May Concern: This is a Letter of Support for 
     Naskila Gaming, 540 State Park Road 56, Livingston Texas and 
     the Alabama-Coshatta Tribe of Texas. Naskila Gaming joined 
     the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce in October 2016 at 
     the ``Distinguished Investor'' membership level. They are 
     committed to our Chamber events and were a Bronze Level 
     sponsor of our 2019 annual awards banquet--Cleveland Through 
     the Ages.
       The Greater Cleveland Chamber appreciates the support 
     Naskila gives to both the people, as well as the businesses 
     in the greater Cleveland area.
           Sincerely,
     Charlie Rice,
       President & Chairman of the Board.
     Jim Carson,
       Vice President and COO.

 DETCOG RES0LUTION--Deep East Texas Council of Governments & Economic 
                          Development District

     IN SUPPORT OF THE ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE OF TEXAS
       WHEREAS, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is a 
     federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Polk County, 
     Texas and is committed to supporting the economic development 
     and creation of jobs within Polk and neighboring counties of 
     Deep East Texas; and
       WHEREAS, through the creation of Naskila Gaming, the 
     Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has created over 560 new 
     jobs in Deep East Texas and is the third largest employer in 
     the region, and is responsible for injecting nearly $140 
     million annually into our regional economy; and
       WHEREAS, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is a great 
     asset to our region and a wonderful neighbor and friend to 
     all of Texas. When Hurricane Harvey devastated our state, 
     they were among the first to step up and provide emergency 
     financial assistance to victims throughout Deep East Texas 
     and many other hard-hit areas; and
       WHEREAS, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas supports the 
     youth of Deep East Texas and provided 46 fully paid 
     collegiate scholarships for graduating high school students 
     in 2018, and
       WHEREAS, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas deserves to 
     be treated equally and fairly and enjoy the same 
     opportunities as other federally recognized Tribes; and
       WHEREAS, federal statutes conflict regarding the right of 
     the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas to offer Class II 
     electronic bingo on their tribal lands pursuant to the Indian 
     Gaming Regulatory Act, a right enjoyed and exercised by the 
     Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas since 1996, and 
     Representative Brian Babin has filed legislation to clarify 
     the conflicting federal statutes; Now, therefore, be it
       RESOLVED,the Board of Directors of the Deep East Texas 
     Council of Governments hereby states its support for the 
     Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas in the effort to clarify 
     that the Tribe can enjoy the opportunity for tribal economic 
     development on terms that are equal and fair, and to protect 
     jobs.
         ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Deep East Texas 
     Council Governments and Economic Development District on the 
                                          28th day of March, 2019.
                                     The Honorable Daphne Session,
                                                        President.

                                         The Honorable Roy Boldon,
                                                        Secretary.

[[Page H7364]]

  



                           Resolution--12-19

       STATE OF TEXAS, Sec. , COMMISSIONERS COURT.
       COUNTY OF HARDIN, Sec. , OF HARDIN COUNTY, TEXAS.
     BE IT REMEMBERED at a meeting of Commissioners Court of 
     Hardin County, Texas, held on this 26TH Day of March. 2019, 
     on motion by LW Cooper Jr., Commissioner of Precinct No. 1, 
     and second by . . .. Alvin Roberts, Commissioner of Precinct 
     No. 4, the following RESOLUTION was adopted:


                  A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 759

       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is a 
     Federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Polk County, 
     Texas and is committed to supporting the economic development 
     and creation of jobs within Polk and surrounding counties of 
     Deep East Texas; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas' Naskila 
     electronic bingo facility has created over 560 new jobs in 
     Deep East Texas. and is the third largest employer in the 
     region and is responsible for injecting nearly $140 million 
     annually in revenue to the region; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas provided over 
     46 fully paid collegiate scholarships for graduating high 
     school students of the Tribe in 2018; and
       Whereas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas being a good 
     community partner contributed $500,000.00 in donations after 
     Hurricane Harvey to several counties, and purchased 30 mobile 
     home units; and
       Whereas, United State Congressman Brian Babin (R-Woodville) 
     has filed H.R. 759 to clarify conflicting federal statutes 
     regarding the right of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 
     to offer Class II Electronic Bingo on their tribal lands 
     pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a right enjoyed 
     and exercised by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas 
     since 1996; and
       Whereas, the passage of H.R. 759 is vital to continued 
     economic development and health of both the Alabama-Coushatta 
     Tribe of Texas and all Deep East Texas; Now, therefore, be it
       RESOLVED that the Hardin County Commissioners Court hereby 
     joins the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas in support of its 
     effort for passage of H.R. 759 to clarify that the Tribe can 
     enjoy the opportunity for tribal economic development on 
     terms that are equal and fair, and to protect jobs. FURTHER, 
     the Hardin County Commissioners Court urgently requests that 
     United States Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, as 
     well as the other 35 Texans elected to the United States 
     House of Representatives, join Congressman Babin in securing 
     the enactment of H.R. 759 into law..
       SIGNED this 26th, day of MARCH, 2019.
                                             Judge Wayne McDaniel,
                                                      County Judge
                                                  L.W. Cooper Jr.,
                                  County Commissioner, Precinct 1.
                                    Commissioner Chris Kirkendall,
                                  County Commissioner, Precinct 2.
                                                          Ken Pelt
                                           Commissioner, Ken Pelt,
                                  County Commissioner, Precinct 3.
                                      Commissioner, Alvin Roberts,
                                  County Commissioner, Precinct 4.
  Mr. BABIN. All I want is for this Tribe in my district to simply have 
the same rights and the same opportunities as their counterparts at the 
Kickapoo Tribe of Texas facility in Eagle Pass, Texas, and what they 
deserve under a fair interpretation of IGRA, the Indian Gaming 
Regulatory Act.
  Why should one Tribe be able to play bingo and another Tribe not be 
able to in the same State of Texas?
  Poverty and joblessness are a scourge in many communities across this 
country, but the consequences are especially dire on the reservation 
lands of the Native American peoples across this Nation.

                              {time}  2145

  This facility has already helped turn that tide of poverty away from 
my district, creating over 500 jobs, contributing $140 million in 
economic activity each year. But all of those benefits and more aren't 
just at risk if this bill doesn't pass. They are guaranteed to go away.
  So please join us today and stop that from happening, and please 
support this bill.
  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hurd).
  Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 759, 
the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal 
and Fair Opportunity Settlement Act.
  As a Representative with more Tribes in my district than any other 
Texan, it is my solemn obligation to fight on behalf of Texas' native 
people.
  I am a proud Texan, and there is no greater State in the Union, no 
prouder people than we Texans, and for all the blessings bestowed upon 
the Lone Star State, we still fall short in our efforts of providing 
true economic stability to our Native American Tribes.
  The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo are the oldest community in the State of 
Texas claiming a governing body since 1682.
  During the Texas Revolution, it was the Alabama-Coushatta of East 
Texas who provided refuge, food, and medicine to the great Sam Houston 
and his army. Their story is sewn into the fabric of Texas' history.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 759 is not about whether one agrees or disagrees 
with gambling. This bill isn't about gambling. It is about letting two 
Tribes in two of Texas' most economically distressed zones engage in 
what every other Tribe in America engages in. This bill would allow 
these two Tribes in Texas to do bingo.
  That is it. Not blackjack. Not poker. Not craps. Just bingo.
  For too long, the Alabama-Coushatta and the Tigua Tribes have been 
prevented from achieving self-sufficiency. It is time we right this 
wrong.
  We will take today efforts to give the Alabama-Coushatta and Ysleta 
del Sur Pueblo Tribes a chance to embark on the American Dream. We will 
vote to lift their families out of poverty. We will vote to educate 
their youth, and we will vote to grow their economies. I am hoping my 
432 colleagues say ``yes'' with their vote.
  I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from the great State of 
Texas, my friend, Dr. Babin, and I want to thank my friends on the 
other side of the aisle, Chairman Grijalva and others, because without 
them, this would not have happened.
  Mr. Speaker, we still work in a bipartisan way here in Washington, 
D.C., and the fact that we are going to help these two Tribes support 
their community is an example of this today.
  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers on this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, do not wish for my support of this measure to 
indicate or to be misconstrued as support for gaming.
  My support of this measure has everything to do with what my 
colleague on the other side of the aisle has stated. This is about 
parity, and this is about the unique sovereignty that recognized Tribes 
have with the Federal Government through our own Constitution.
  If we are going to be recognizing this unique sovereignty, we should 
do so equally among all the other Tribes. This equality is so necessary 
if we are going to maintain the credibility of the process.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for my colleagues and all the work that 
they put into this, and I yield back the balance of my time
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Guam (Mr. San Nicolas) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 759, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________