[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11096]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON'S 
             SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ON INDIAN AFFAIRS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 8, 2015

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 45th 
anniversary of President Richard M. Nixon's Special Message to Congress 
on Indian Affairs.
  For nearly two hundred years, Federal Indian policy has veered from 
one failed policy to another. Past policies have included treaty-
making, outright war and hostilities, land allotment, assimilation, and 
termination. On July 8, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon issued his 
Special Message to Congress on Indian Affairs. In the message, he 
acknowledged that the state of Federal Indian policy was wholly 
inadequate. President Nixon noted that the Indians were the most 
deprived group of Americans, ranking at the bottom of nearly every 
economic and social measurement. He related that, despite inconsistent 
and often hostile Federal treatment, the story of the American Indian 
was one of great struggle, but ultimately overcoming overwhelming 
challenges. He highlighted the long history of cultural contributions 
to American society which have become part of the American experience 
and spirit. He also noted the ``record of enormous contributions 
Indians have made to this country, its art and culture, its strength 
and spirit, its sense of history, and its sense of purpose.''
  The President's Special Message was of particular importance because 
it called on Congress to repudiate and repeal the termination policy 
expressed in House Concurrent Resolution 108, and instead he promoted a 
policy that would allow Indian tribes to become part of the American 
fabric and participate in their communities across this great nation, 
at every level.
  The President's message represented a fundamental change to how the 
United States engages Indian tribal governments and their people, 
proclaiming ``the time has come to break decisively with the past and 
to create the conditions for a new era in which the Indian future is 
determined by Indian acts and Indian decisions.'' Since then, the 
United States Indian policy has become one of Indian Self-
Determination, without Termination.
  Congress responded to the Nixon Administration's initiative in 1975, 
by passing the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 
paving the way for the enactment in 1988 of the Tribal Self-Governance 
Program. As a result of these enactments, Indian tribes currently 
manage and administer one-half of all programs and services offered by 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service.
  In an effort to further develop a relationship of trust and 
confidence between the Federal government and Indian people, the 
President endorsed legislation to restore the Blue Lake lands to the 
Taos Pueblo Indians. Previously, the United States had appropriated the 
land for the purposes of creating a national forest. The Pueblo held 
the land sacred and necessary to express their religious faith. The 
message also proposed reforms to Indian education, encouraged 
investment, economic development and job creation in tribal 
communities, called for liberalizing land leases, and increasing 
support for Indian health.
  Since then, Congress and the Executive Branch have collaborated to 
enact and implement statutes to improve Indian education, health, 
housing, sacred site protection, energy and economic development, and 
international trade and tourism. Every President since Nixon has 
embraced and implemented the policy of Indian Self-Determination. This 
policy is supported by the twin pillars of strong tribal governments 
and vigorous tribal economies, and continues to be the most successful 
Indian doctrine to date.
  Mr. Speaker, I come before you now to commemorate President Richard 
M. Nixon's Special Message to Congress on Indian Affairs, affirm its 
support for the enduring truths contained therein, and call for the 
policy of Indian Self-Determination to be expanded and strengthened by 
this and future Congresses and Presidents.

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