[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15478-15479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HOLDING CERTAIN LANDS IN TRUST FOR THE UTU UTU GWAITU PAIUTE TRIBE

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 854) to provide for certain lands to be held in 
trust for the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 854

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

     SECTION 1. LANDS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

       (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     lands, including improvements and appurtenances, described in 
     subsection (b) are hereby declared to be held in trust by the 
     United States for the benefit of the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute 
     Tribe, Benton Paiute Reservation.
       (b) Land Description.--The lands to be held in trust 
     pursuant to subsection (a) are the approximately 240 acres 
     described as follows: Mount Diablo Base and Meridian, 
     Township 2 South, Range 31 East Section 11: SE \1/4\ and E 
     \1/2\ of SW \1/4\.
       (c) Gaming Restriction.--Lands taken into trust pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall not be considered to have been taken 
     into trust for, and shall not be eligible for, class II 
     gaming or class III gaming (as those terms are used in the 
     Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.)).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 854 is a bill to provide for certain lands to be held in trust 
for the Benton Paiute Reservation in Northern California, home of Utu 
Utu Gwaitu Indian Tribe.
  H.R. 854 would transfer 240 acres of land from the Bureau of Land 
Management and place that land into trust for the benefit of the tribe. 
The 240 acres are contiguous to the existing reservation and have been 
classified as suitable for disposal through the BLM land use planning 
process.
  This acreage is of vital importance to the tribe in its quest for 
self-sufficiency and to enhance its potential for economic development. 
Additionally, because of the tribe's strong commitment to a solid 
economic future based on growth and hard work, the tribal council 
passed a resolution to prohibit gaming on the 240-acre parcel.
  This resolution makes it clear that the tribe will not carry out 
gaming activities on the land proposed for transfer. I commend the 
efforts of Congressman McKeon of California, the sponsor of H.R. 854, 
who has worked diligently since the 104th Congress to see this 
legislation enacted into law.
  I look forward to the support of this House on H.R. 854.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the majority has adequately explained this legislation, 
H.R. 854, and we have no objections to it.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rIse today in strong support of H.R. 854 
and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its adoption. I 
introduced H.R. 854 on February 16, 2005, to transfer 240 acres of 
excess Bureau of Land Management, BLM, lands into trust for the Utu Utu 
Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, Tribe.
  The Benton Paiute Reservation is located in Mono County, 
approximately 40 miles northeast of Bishop, CA, in one of the most 
remote and isolated areas of my congressional district. The 240 acres 
proposed for transfer under H.R. 854 are immediately adjacent to the 
existing 160-acre Benton Paiute reservation and have been classified by 
the BLM as ``suitable for disposal'' for more than a decade.
  In fact, legislation facilitating this transfer goes as far back as 
the 104th Congress. We have come a long way to get to this day and I'd 
like to thank Chairman Pombo for his help in making it possible. I 
would also like to praise the committee staff, particularly Tom 
Brierton, Chris Fluhr and Jim Hall.
  Mr. Speaker, the lands taken into trust under H.R. 854 are of vital 
importance to the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe in its quest for self-
sufficiency and to enhance its potential for economic development. The 
land in question will be put to good use, including the construction of 
much needed tribal housing units, a health station, wellness center, 
fire station, police station and an industrial park for manufacturing 
businesses.
  Additionally, because of the Utu Utu Gwaitu's strong commitment to a 
solid economic future based on growth and hard work, the tribe has 
passed a tribal government resolution to prohibit gaming on the 240-
acre parcel. This makes it clear that the tribe will not carry out 
gaming activities on the lands proposed for transfer. To reflect this, 
H.R. 854 includes a specific prohibition on gaming.
  Because of this, I am pleased to say that H.R. 854 has strong support 
in my district, with backing from the Mono County government and local 
community, as well as from numerous California Indian tribal 
governments and organizations.
  Finally, I am pleased to be able to say that no Federal funds will be 
necessary to accomplish the proposed land transfer in this legislation. 
In short, Mr. Speaker, this bill is an example of that bird we see too 
rarely around here these days: A ``win-win'' proposition.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend the efforts of all the 
members of the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe, and in particular, I'd like 
to praise Chairman Joseph Saulque.
  Chairman Saulque has been an advocate for Indian people for more than 
three decades and is one of the most long-serving tribal leaders in 
California. His outstanding work, particularly in the fields of Indian 
health and education, has made a tremendous difference in improving the 
lives of generations of California Indians.
  It has been my pleasure to work with Chairman Saulque and the Utu Utu 
Gwaitu Paiute Tribe over the last 4 years and I want to thank them for 
their part in helping to make this bill possible.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 854.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time and urge passage of the legislation.

[[Page 15479]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 854, as amended.
  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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