[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 30024-30025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TORRES MARTINEZ DESERT CAHUILLA INDIANS AND GUIDIVILLE BAND OF POMO 
           INDIANS OF GUIDIVILLE INDIAN RANCHERIA LAND LEASES

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1953) to authorize leases for terms not to exceed 99 years 
on land held in trust for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians 
and the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian 
Rancheria, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1953

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF 99-YEAR LEASES.

       (a) In General.--The first section of the Act entitled ``An 
     Act to authorize the leasing of restricted Indian lands for 
     public, religious, educational, residential, business, and 
     other purposes requiring the grant of long-term leases'', 
     approved August 9, 1955 (25 U.S.C. 415(a)), is amended by 
     inserting ``lands held in trust for the Torres Martinez 
     Desert Cahuilla Indians, lands held in trust for the 
     Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian 
     Rancheria, lands held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of 
     the Umatilla Indian Reservation'' after ``Sparks Indian 
     Colony,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to any lease entered into or renewed after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2. REVOCATION OF CHARTER OF INCORPORATION.

       The request of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of 
     Wisconsin to surrender the charter of incorporation issued to 
     the Community on May 21, 1938, pursuant to section 17 of the 
     Act of June 18, 1934, (commonly known as the ``Indian 
     Reorganization Act'') is hereby accepted and that charter of 
     incorporation is hereby revoked.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1953 is a technical amendments bill which will 
authorize leases for terms not to exceed 99 years on lands held in 
trust for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Guidiville Band of 
Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian Rancheria.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will also revoke a Federal corporate charter 
granted to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians in 
1938. The band has asked us to revoke the charter because it is 
outdated, because it has never been used, and because it has been 
suspended by another charter. Only the Congress can revoke this 
charter.
  Existing Federal law, which limits the leasing of land held in trust 
for Indian tribes to a period of not more than 25 years, has proven to 
be unrealistic in today's world of large investment requirements. 
Tribes need expanded leasing authority to increase on-reservation 
housing and to facilitate economic development.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this technical amendment and urge my 
colleagues to pass same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would say that the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) 
has quite properly explained the legislation. The tribe has requested 
this matter, and it is similar to legislation that we have passed in 
previous years. I recommend that we support this legislation.
  Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to suspend 
the rules and pass H.R. 1953. This is legislation that I introduced 
earlier this term in an effort to assist two tribes and some of the 
finest people in my community. The ability for these sovereign 
governments to execute 99-year leases is critical for their self-
sufficiency and the diversity necessary for further economic viability. 
In addition, I support the new provisions added via the manager's 
amendment and am pleased that all of these contained provisions have 
been approved by the proper representatives of both parties.
  Briefly, I would like to explain to my colleagues what Congress is 
accomplishing with this bill. Currently, federal law limits these 
tribes to executing a 25-year lease that may be renewed once for a 
second 25-year term. The bill's stated worthy purposes for public, 
religious, educational, residential, and business development reflect 
the future goals of the tribes and require this federal action 
permitting these entities the ability to grant long-term leases of 99 
years.
  One key principle that must remain fixed within the foundation of 
federal Native American policy is preserving the sovereignty of Indian 
tribes. This stated policy is unfortunately meaningless if Congress 
fails in its duty to exercise its legislative authority and empower 
tribes. Tribes must have the appropriate legal authority through the 
necessary tools for true self-sufficiency, governance, and development. 
They must be free to undertake the type of modern development that this 
bill contemplates. This is a fair and equitable result for the 
meaningful self-determination worthy of a sovereign nation and its 
people going into the 21st century.
  In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the 
gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Don Young), the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. Hansen), the distinguished ranking member (Mr. Miller), the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), and the other Members who 
were instrumental in the passage of this overdue and worthwhile bill. 
In addition, I am grateful that my colleagues and I were able to secure 
its passage this year, because there is no need to delay the 
implementation of any bill designed with the sole focus of helping 
Native Americans and Indian tribes.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. 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 Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1953, as amended.

[[Page 30025]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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