[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     repealed.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     repealed.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     chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 128), is repealed.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     repealed.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     chapter 132; 25 U.S.C. 137), is repealed.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     repealed.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     chapter 35; 25 U.S.C. 273), is repealed.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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