[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7164-7165]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT (WESTERN) TRIBE LEASE EXTENSIONS

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2457) to provide for extensions of leases of certain 
land by Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                S. 2457

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSIONS OF LEASES OF CERTAIN LAND BY 
                   MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT (WESTERN) TRIBE.

       (a) In General.--Any lease of restricted land of the 
     Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Tribe'') entered into on behalf of the Tribe 
     by the tribal corporation of the Tribe chartered pursuant to 
     section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 477), may 
     include an option to renew the lease for not more than 2 
     additional terms, each of which shall not exceed 25 years, 
     subject only to the approval of the tribal council of the 
     Tribe.
       (b) Liability of United States.--The United States shall 
     not be liable to any party for any loss resulting from a 
     renewal of a lease entered into pursuant to subsection (a).
       (c) Prohibition on Gaming Activities.--No entity may 
     conduct any gaming activity (within the meaning of section 4 
     of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)) 
     pursuant to a claim of inherent authority or any Federal law 
     (including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 
     et seq.) and any regulations promulgated by the Secretary of 
     the Interior or the National Indian Gaming Commission 
     pursuant to that Act) on any land that is leased with an 
     option to renew the lease in accordance with this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RAHALL. 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 materials on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from West Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RAHALL. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Existing Federal law allows tribal corporations to lease tribal land 
for a term of 25 years. However, there are instances where the Congress 
has provided the authority for a tribal corporation to engage in even 
longer terms.
  The pending measure would give the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of 
Connecticut the ability to lease its lands for not more than two 
additional terms of up to 25 years each, for a total of 75 years, in an 
effort to assist this tribe, expand its economy and assist its members.
  Furthermore, it prohibits any entity from conducting gaming activity 
on any land that is leased with an option to renew under this act.
  I would note that this measure passed the other body by unanimous 
consent. And I would commend our colleague from Connecticut (Mr. 
Larson) for his leadership and championing this measure in the House.
  I urge its passage and I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Senate bill 2457 provides for extensions of leases of certain land by 
the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut. The leased land is for 
nongaming commercial purposes. I urge support of this legislation as 
does the administration.
  I have no additional speakers. Therefore, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2457.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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