[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN ROBERT MARTIN, MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS

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                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2012

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to pay tribute to a great 
leader and role model, Chairman Robert Martin of the Morongo Band of 
Mission, which is a 1,000 member tribe located near Banning, 
California. The Banning Chamber of Commerce will honor Chairman Martin 
for his outstanding service to the local community on November 1, 2012 
in Cabazon, California.
  Before becoming Chairman of the Morongo Tribe, Robert worked across 
the Southwest United States as a building contractor. He brought new 
homes to families, new roads to communities, and worked on improving 
vital infrastructure throughout the Southwest.
  Chairman Martin has consistently advocated for a better life and 
sovereignty for the tribal community in the United States. In 1987, 
Martin led Morongo in a Supreme Court case which confirmed the 
sovereignty of Indian Tribes' right to establish gaming operations. 
This monumental case gave the 550 Indian Tribes in the United States 
greater independence and ability for self governance. After this 
Supreme Court case, Chairman Martin managed the planning and 
construction of Casino Morongo, which is now one of the largest 
employers in all of Riverside County, California.
  Chairman Martin is passionate about defending and continuing the rich 
cultural traditions of the Morongo Tribe. Under Martin's leadership, 
Morongo renewed its commitment to developing the next generation of 
tribal leaders by establishing a tuition-free preparatory academy on 
the reservation.
  Chairman Martin continues to give back to his community by serving on 
the board for the California Indian Manpower Consortium, the California 
Indian Child Welfare Consortium, Riverside/San Bernardino County Indian 
Health, Inc., and the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's 
Association.
  I applaud Chairman Martin's tireless work on behalf of the Indian 
community, which has made a lasting impact on the future and 
sustainability of Native American tribes across the United States. My 
deepest congratulations, along with those of my wife, Barbara, and my 
children, Rialto Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer 
are with Chairman Martin during this time of celebration. Mr. Speaker, 
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a beloved community member 
and tireless advocate for Native American rights, Morongo Chairman 
Robert Martin.

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