[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           INDIAN SACRED SITES MUST BE TREATED WITH REVERENCE

  (Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday at this time several Members of 
the House Committee on Resources Democratic Caucus rose to speak on a 
number of environmental issues as a prelude to Earth Day, which is 
April 22. As the ranking Democrat on that committee, today we continue 
with this theme.
  My purpose this morning, however, is not to speak to the more 
traditional environmental concerns of which I share, but rather to draw 
attention to the destruction of sites located on Federal lands which 
are sacred to American Indians.
  Valley of Chiefs, Montana. This area contains historic rock art and 
is used for ceremonial purposes. Yet the Bush administration believes 
it is a pretty good place to drill for oil and gas.
  Indian Pass, California, a place where dream trails were woven. Yet 
the Bush administration has given the green light to a massive 1,600 
acre open-pit gold mine there.
  There are many other examples.
  Most Americans understand a reverence for the great Sistine Chapel or 
a traditional church with steeple and a bell. I believe it is time we 
sound the alarm bell for Indian sacred sites and treat them with equal 
reverence. We are, after all, one Nation under God, and all of our 
religious beliefs must be protected.

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