[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9677-H9678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REPEALING EXISTING SUBSTANDARD PROVISIONS ENCOURAGING CONCILIATION WITH
TRIBES ACT
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 789) to repeal certain obsolete laws relating to Indians.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 789
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 ``Repealing Existing
Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes
Act'' or the ``RESPECT Act''.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF CERTAIN OBSOLETE LAWS RELATING TO INDIANS.
(1) Section 2080 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 72) is
repealed.
(2) Section 2100 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 127) is
repealed.
(3) Section 2 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat. 449,
chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 128), is repealed.
(4) The first section of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat.
424, chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 129), is amended under the
heading ``CHEYENNES AND ARAPAHOES.'' by striking ``; that the
Secretary of the Interior be authorized to withhold, from any
tribe of Indians who may hold any captives other than
Indians, any moneys due them from the United States until
said captives shall be surrendered to the lawful authorities
of the United States''.
(5) Section 2087 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 130) is
repealed.
(6) Section 3 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat. 449,
chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 137), is repealed.
(7) Section 2101 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 138) is
repealed.
(8) Section 7 of the Act of June 23, 1879 (21 Stat. 35,
chapter 35; 25 U.S.C. 273), is repealed.
(9) The first section of the Act of March 3, 1893 (27 Stat.
612, chapter 209), is amended--
(A) under the heading ``MISCELLANEOUS SUPPORTS.'' (27 Stat.
628; 25 U.S.C. 283), by striking the last 2 undesignated
paragraphs; and
(B) under the heading ``FOR SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.'' (27 Stat.
635; 25 U.S.C. 283), by striking the second undesignated
paragraph.
(10) Section 18 of the Act of June 30, 1913 (38 Stat. 96,
chapter 4; 25 U.S.C. 285), is amended by striking the tenth
undesignated paragraph.
(11) The Act of June 21, 1906 (34 Stat. 325, chapter 3504),
is amended under the heading ``commissioner.'' under the
heading ``I. GENERAL PROVISIONS.'' (34 Stat. 328; 25 U.S.C.
302) by striking the fourth undesignated paragraph.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Obernolte) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 789, the Repealing
Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes
Act, introduced by Senator Rounds of South Dakota. Here in the House,
the bill is led by my friend and colleague, Representative O'Halleran.
This bill would repeal 11 antiquated Federal laws that pertain to
American Indians and Alaska Natives.
As this body is well aware, Federal Indian law has existed since the
foundation of the United States, and it governs the relationship
between the Federal Government, American Indians, and Alaska Natives.
The policies and principles of Federal Indian law have undergone many
transformations throughout American history, as it was once the policy
of the Federal Government to commit violence and forced displacement
against Tribal communities.
Although the Federal Indian laws of today are better at upholding the
principles of Tribal self-determination and sovereignty, many laws that
reflect the prior Federal policy during the eras of genocide, removal,
assimilation, or termination still remain as law.
S. 789 will address this concern by repealing 11 outdated statutes,
many of which pertain to the colonial and Indian boarding school eras.
I thank Senator Rounds and Representative O'Halleran for introducing
this legislation and ensuring that the Federal law reflects the respect
that we hold for Indian Country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1645
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 789, the Repealing
Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes
Act, also known as the RESPECT Act. This legislation would repeal
several antiquated and outdated Federal laws directed at Native
Americans. It is a bill that is long overdue.
During the mid-1800s and the mid-1900s, the Federal Government
attempted to assimilate Native Americans by disrupting traditional
community structures and ways of life.
S. 789 repeals 11 statutes passed during that time that are obsolete
and have been unenforced for decades.
Federal Indian policy today recognizes the unique sovereign status of
Tribal governments and supports government-to-government relationships
between the United States and each of the hundreds of recognized Tribes
across our country.
S. 789 is part of that policy, acknowledging that these laws
unfortunately existed and that they should be formally repealed and
removed from the United States Code.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez).
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, this bill does acknowledge the long
and painful history of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native
Hawaiians in this country. I support S. 789 because it moves us one
step closer to recognizing and remembering that painful history but
then addressing it by removing from our statutes that which is so ugly,
harmful, and painful.
This bill repeals those outdated and offensive legislative provisions
that robbed Native American populations of their dignity and their
sovereignty for decades. In New Mexico, we are keenly aware of the
damage inflicted upon Native youth and families by so-called reform
schools, coercive policies around work, and countless other forms of
mistreatment.
Legislation like S. 789 reminds us of that painful history. But we
cannot only acknowledge historical wrongs. We must do the work to make
things right. I am pleased to voice my support for this bill and look
forward to continuing to work with my colleagues from both parties to
fulfill the Federal Government's full trust and treaty
responsibilities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 789.
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. BIGGS. 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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