[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS AND CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND 
                             RONDE INDIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KURT SCHRADER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2016

  Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 817 
and S. 818 and ask my House colleagues for their support for these 
bills which are vital to two tribes I have the honor of representing.
  Over the past three congresses Senators Wyden, Merkley and I 
introduced these important bills to simplify the fee-to-trust process 
for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated 
Tribes of the Grand Ronde respectively. Our legislation will provide 
considerable help to the Siletz and Grand Ronde in their continued 
efforts to restore land that was lost during federal policies of 
allotment and termination of tribal recognition in 1954. The Tribes' 
efforts to restore land are currently hampered by a lengthy, expensive, 
and cumbersome Bureau of Indian Affairs process. The ability to 
reacquire land is critical to self-determination efforts by terminated 
and restored tribes like the Siletz and Grand Ronde.
  Under our legislation any property located within the boundaries of 
the respective Tribe's original reservation will be treated as ``on-
reservation'' for the purpose of processing acquisitions of property 
into trust, and deemed a part of the Tribe's reservation once taken 
into trust. It should be noted that nothing in these bills prioritizes 
for any purpose the claims of any federally-recognized Indian tribe 
over the claims of any other federally recognized Indian tribe.
  Once enacted, these bills will not only save the Tribes' time and 
money which could be better utilized serving its membership and the 
community, but would also streamline the BIA's land-into-trust 
responsibilities to the Tribes', thus saving taxpayer money. Reforming 
this process for the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes reflects the federal 
policy of tribal self-determination and the priority of restoring lands 
to once-terminated tribes.
  I would like to personally thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member 
Grijalva, Subcommittee Chairman Young and Ranking Member Ruiz, and 
former Chairman Hastings and former Ranking Member DeFazio for their 
leadership, assistance, time, and patience over the years moving these 
bills through the Natural Resources Committee.
  Finally, I would like to thank the Siletz and Grand Ronde Tribes for 
their friendship and wish them a much deserved congratulations. Their 
tireless efforts and perseverance over the last six years has been 
critical to getting this legislation across the finish line. It's an 
honor to represent both in Congress and I am proud to play a small part 
in your continued efforts to restore your historic lands.

                          ____________________