[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12024-12025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER CLARIFICATION ACT

  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4445) to amend Public Law 95-232 to repeal a restriction on 
treating as Indian country certain lands held in trust for Indian 
pueblos in New Mexico, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4445

       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 ``Indian Pueblo Cultural 
     Center Clarification Act''.

     SEC. 2. REPEAL OF RESTRICTION ON TREATING AS INDIAN COUNTRY 
                   CERTAIN LANDS HELD IN TRUST FOR INDIAN PUEBLOS 
                   IN NEW MEXICO.

       Public Law 95-232 is amended in the first section in 
     subsection (b) by striking ``However, such property shall not 
     be `Indian country' as defined in section 1151 of title 18, 
     United States Code.''.

     SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON GAMING.

       Public Law 95-232 is amended in the first section by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(e) Prohibition on Gaming.--Gaming, as defined and 
     regulated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 
     et seq.), shall be prohibited on land held in trust pursuant 
     to subsection (b).''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Heinrich) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HEINRICH. 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 bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Clarification Act is an important 
step that will help keep the Indian Pueblo

[[Page 12025]]

Cultural Center serving our community and our Nation.
  Founded in 1976 to celebrate the history and accomplishments of our 
State's 19 Indian Pueblos, the IPCC includes a museum that honors the 
continuing contributions of Pueblo people to our State in their own 
words. The IPCC continues to serve as a gathering space for Pueblo 
leaders to meet and discuss issues of importance to the 19 Indian 
Pueblos.

                              {time}  1330

  The IPCC property sits on land that was put into trust for New 
Mexico's pueblos in 1978, when the Albuquerque Indian School was closed 
by the Bureau of Indian Education. However, in recent years, 
disagreement has arisen about the land's tax status. This legislation 
will remove a clause in the current law that states that this land is 
not ``Indian Country,'' thereby ensuring that commercial activity on 
this site remains exempt from State taxation, just like all other trust 
land.
  The bill also includes a clause that explicitly prohibits gaming at 
the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center site, which has earned the support of 
the All-Indian Pueblo Council, the State of New Mexico, and the city of 
Albuquerque. Although it was not the intention of the All-Indian Pueblo 
Council to engage in gaming at this location, that provision puts to 
rest any concerns of residents who live nearby.
  I thank each of the parties who have come to the table in this effort 
to bolster a place loved by so many across New Mexico's First 
Congressional District and across our Nation. I'd also like to thank my 
colleagues from New Mexico, Representative Teague and Representative 
Lujan, for their support as well.
  Mr. Speaker, the House Natural Resources Committee reported this bill 
by unanimous consent on June 16 of this year, and I would ask my 
colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4445.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New 
Mexico has adequately explained the purpose of H.R. 4445. As long as 
the Pueblos and the State of New Mexico are comfortable with this 
legislation, I have no objection to passing it today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Native American 
Caucus, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4445, the Indian Pueblo 
Cultural Center Clarification Act.
  First, I would like to acknowledge Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader 
Hoyer for their leadership in bringing this important bill to the 
floor. My colleague Congresswoman Heinrich, the author of this 
legislation, has worked hard to ensure that the Indian Pueblo Cultural 
Center is considered a part of tribal lands.
  The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a vital part of Pueblo history 
in New Mexico. Its mission is to preserve and perpetuate Pueblo culture 
and to advance understanding by presenting the accomplishments and 
evolving history of the Pueblo people of New Mexico. While the Pueblo 
people are located primarily in New Mexico, at one time the Pueblo's 
homeland reached into the states of Colorado and Arizona. Pueblo people 
rooted in this region of the southwest are descendants of an indigenous 
Native American culture that has established itself over many 
centuries.
  H.R. 4445, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Clarification Act, would 
strike a provision in current law which prohibits the Indian Pueblo 
Cultural Center in New Mexico from being considered ``Indian Country.'' 
When this provision is removed, it will give the Cultural Center the 
same tax-exempt status as other tribal trust lands and would prohibit 
the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department from levying taxes on 
Pueblo members who engage in business at the center. In addition, the 
legislation will prohibit any gaming from being conducted on the 
transferred property.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4445 because it makes an 
important correction to current law so that the Indian Pueblo Cultural 
Center can now be considered tax-exempt. This vital piece of New 
Mexican and Pueblo Indian Culture deserves our full support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4445.
  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I would simply urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 4445, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4445, as amended.
  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. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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