[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 8313-8314]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE TRUST LAND ACT

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4222) to provide for the conveyance of certain 
land inholdings owned by the United States to the Tucson Unified School 
District and to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4222

       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 ``Pascua Yaqui Tribe Trust 
     Land Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
     apply:
       (1) District.--The term ``District'' means the Tucson 
     Unified School District, a school district recognized as such 
     under the laws of the State of Arizona.
       (2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map titled ``Pascua 
     Yaqui Tribe Trust Land Act'' and dated April 23, 2012.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Pascua Yaqui Tribe 
     of Arizona, a federally recognized Indian tribe.

     SEC. 3. LANDS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

       (a) Parcel A.--Subject to valid existing rights, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     Federal lands of approximately 10 acres shown on the map as 
     Parcel A are declared held in trust by the United States for 
     the benefit of the Tribe.
       (b) Parcel B.--Immediately upon the Secretary's receipt 
     from the District of the abandonment of its possessory 
     interest of the lands of approximately 10 acres shown on the 
     map as Parcel B, subject to valid existing rights, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     Federal lands shown on the map as Parcel B are declared held 
     in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe.

     SEC. 4. GAMING PROHIBITION.

       The Tribe may not conduct gaming activities on the lands 
     held in trust under this Act, as a matter of claimed inherent 
     authority or under the authority of any Federal law, 
     including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et 
     seq.) or under any regulations thereunder promulgated by the 
     Secretary or the National Indian Gaming Commission.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4222, authored by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Grijalva), directs the Secretary of the Interior to take two 
approximately 10-acre parcels of Federal land into trust for the Pascua 
Yaqui tribe in Arizona. The two parcels are completely surrounded by 
either the tribe's reservation or by fee lands owned by the tribe.
  Before one of the parcels can be taken into trust, however, the 
Tucson Unified School District will need to relinquish its possessory 
interest in the parcel. The school district no longer needs the land, 
which it had previously received under the Recreation and Public 
Purposes Act. Both parcels would be utilized as part of a golf course 
as currently under construction. Neither parcel is necessary for the 
construction of the golf course, but if the tribe does not acquire and 
use the parcels, they will be orphaned and of relatively no use to 
either the tribe or to the United States.
  Finally, as has been the practice of the committee during the last 
several Congresses, this bill includes language that prohibits any 
gaming on the two parcels to be taken into trust, and the tribe has no 
objection to this language.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Let me thank the chairman for moving the legislation forward. I'm very 
appreciative.

[[Page 8314]]

  H.R. 4222 is an important piece of legislation that will enable the 
Pascua Yaqui tribe of my district in Arizona to consolidate its 
landholdings and remove two isolated undeveloped parcels of land from 
the Bureau of Land Management responsibility.
  The two 10-acre parcels are islands of trapped Federal land 
surrounded by Pascua Yaqui land on all sides. The tribe is developing a 
golf course in this area, and conveying these two parcels to the tribe 
will make managing the land easier for the tribe and the Federal 
Government. Without this legislation, the tribe would have to design 
around the parcels, slowing down the project, and weakening economic 
development that will benefit the entire Pascua Yaqui community and the 
residents of Pima County. Passage of this bill will further the Federal 
Government's responsibility to enhance tribal trust resources.
  I worked with BLM to ensure that the language of the bill would allow 
for environmental review and a public comment period in line with the 
National Environmental Policy Act and am pleased to report that the 
bill we are taking up today is supported by the Agency. I wish to thank 
my colleagues and the leadership within the Natural Resources Committee 
for bringing this bill forward and for hopeful passage in this session.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4222, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend from 
Arizona that I have no more requests for time on this excellent piece 
of legislation.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for saving 
this very complicated and important piece of legislation as the last 
item that we deal with here today. My appreciation.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4222, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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